A St Andrews scientist has received a medal for his attempts to unravel the unsolved problems in solar physics.

Professor Eric Priest was given the Payne-Gaposchkin Medal, which is awarded annually for distinguished research in plasma, solar or space physics, by the Institute of Physics at a ceremony in London.

Professor Priest was selected for his “major contributions to many of the unsolved problems in solar physics, including magnetic reconnection, coronal heating, phasing-mixing of MHD waves and solar flares.”

Over the last 40 years, Professor Priest has built up the Solar Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) group at the University of St Andrews from nothing to a unit consisting of eight permanent staff, six post-doctoral researchers and 15 research students.

He said, “This award owes a huge amount to the vibrant research atmosphere in St Andrews. I’ve been highly fortunate to have three brilliant long- term close collaborators here, namely, Alan Hood, Clare Parnell and Duncan Mackay.”

Professor Priest was recently appointed emeritus professor of theoretical solar physics at the university’s Mathematical Institute, and hopes to continue active research.

A fellow of the Royal Society, earlier this year he was awarded the gold medal of the Royal Astronomical Society.