Glittering prizes

Jocelyn Bell Burnell, professor of physics at the Open University, who discovered pulsars - stars which send out pulses of radio waves that sweep across the sky in identifiable patterns - has received the Edinburgh medal. The medal is awarded each year to a prominent scientist for the quality of their work and wider contribution to society.

The University of Essex has awarded honorary degrees to Stephen Jones, professor of genetics at University College London, and Miriam Rothschild, an expert in the study of insects.

Alan Tuckett, director of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education for England and Wales, will be awarded an honorary doctorate by the Open University tomorrow for services to adult education.

Kecheng Liu, reader in computing science and course director for Staffordshire University's MSc in computing science, has been awarded an honorary professorship from Foshan University, South China.