{{short description|British astrophysicist (born 1974)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox scientist |name= Hiranya Peiris |image=Dr. Hiranya Peiris standing outside the AlbaNova building in Stockholm Sweden (cropped).jpg |image_size= |caption=Peiris in 2016 |birth_name=Hiranya Vajramani Peiris |birth_date={{birth date and age|1974|April|29}} |birth_place=[[Sri Lanka]]| |awards = {{Plainlist| * [[Eddington Medal]] (2021) * [[Max Born Medal and Prize]] (2021) * [[Fred Hoyle Medal and Prize]] (2018) * [[Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics]] (2018) * [[Gruber Prize in Cosmology]] (2012)}} |other_names= |known_for= | fields = [[Physics]] |alma_mater=[[University of Cambridge]] (BA)<br />[[Princeton University]] (PhD) |thesis_title=First year Wilkinson microwave anisotropy probe results : cosmological parameters and implications for inflation |thesis_url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53202248 |thesis_year=2003 |workplaces=[[University College London]]<br />[[Stockholm University]]<br />[[University of Chicago]]<br />[[University of Cambridge]] | doctoral_advisor = [[David Spergel]]<ref name=phd/> |spouse= |partner= |children= |website=https://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/people/Hiranya.Peiris }} '''Hiranya Vajramani Peiris''' is a British [[astrophysicist]] at the University of Cambridge, where she holds the Professorship of Astrophysics (1909).<ref name=gs>{{Google scholar id}}</ref> She is best known for her work on the [[cosmic microwave background radiation]], and interdisciplinary links between cosmology and high-energy physics.<ref name="STFCCouncil"/> She was one of 27 scientists who received the [[Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics]] in 2018 for their "detailed maps of the early universe".<ref>[https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/46973 Oral history interview transcript with Hiranya Peiris on 21 April 2021, American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library & Archives]</ref>
==Education and early life== Peiris was born in [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goodyear |first1=Charis |title=The cosmologist solving questions at the boundary of our understanding |url=https://www.cam.ac.uk/this-cambridge-life/the-cosmologist-solving-questions-at-the-boundary-of-our-understanding |website=cam.ac.uk |date=13 November 2023 |publisher=This Cambridge Life |access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref> She completed the [[Natural Sciences Tripos]] at [[University of Cambridge]] in 1998,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Advances In Astronomy: From The Big Bang To The Solar System|last=Thompson|first=Michael T J|publisher=World Scientific|year=2005|isbn=1-78326-019-X|pages=122}}</ref> as an undergraduate student of [[Murray Edwards College, Cambridge|New Hall, Cambridge]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk/news/our-blogs/she-talks-science/career-path-exploring-fingerprints-from-the-big-bang|title=Career Path: Exploring fingerprints from the Big Bang|date=19 November 2015|website=Murray Edwards College – University of Cambridge|language=en|access-date=15 February 2019|archive-date=15 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215221307/https://www.murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk/news/our-blogs/she-talks-science/career-path-exploring-fingerprints-from-the-big-bang|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cosmoparticle/hiranya-peiris|title=Hiranya Peiris|last=UCL|date=26 January 2018|website=Cosmoparticle Initiative|language=en|access-date=15 February 2019|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801142706/https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cosmoparticle/hiranya-peiris|url-status=dead}}</ref> She earned a [[PhD]] at [[Princeton University]] from the department of astrophysical Sciences with advisor [[David Spergel]], where she first worked on the [[Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe]] (WMAP).<ref name=phd>{{cite thesis |last1=Peiris |first1=Hiranya |date=2003 |title=First year ''Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe'' results: Cosmological parameters and implications for inflation |id={{ProQuest|288167013}} |bibcode=2003PhDT.........9P |oclc=53202248 }}</ref><ref name="bit" /><ref name="T2005">{{cite book|author=Thompson J Michael T|title=Advances In Astronomy: From The Big Bang To The Solar System|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=buC3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA122|date=26 October 2005|publisher=World Scientific|isbn=978-1-78326-019-5|pages=99–}}</ref>
==Career and research== After her PhD, she went on to work at the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics at the [[University of Chicago]] as a Hubble fellow.<ref name="bit">{{Cite web|url=https://iris.ucl.ac.uk/iris/browse/profile?upi=HVPEI01|title=Iris View Profile|website=iris.ucl.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=12 December 2017}}{{self-published inline|date=March 2023}}</ref> Having held several competitive [[postdoctoral fellow]]ships,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Dr Hiranya Peiris |journal=Astronomy & Geophysics |date=February 2012 |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=1.37 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-4004.2012.53136_7.x |doi-access=free }}</ref> in 2007 Peiris returned to the University of Cambridge as a [[Science and Technology Facilities Council]] (STFC) advanced [[fellow]] and was awarded a junior [[research fellow]]ship at [[King's College, Cambridge]] in 2008. In 2009, Peiris won a [[Philip Leverhulme Prize|Leverhulme Trust award]] for cosmology and secured a faculty position at University College London.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/sites/default/files/imported_pdfs/2009.pdf|title=The Leverhulme Trust, 2009 Award Winners|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426095324/https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/sites/default/files/imported_pdfs/2009.pdf|archive-date=26 April 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref>
She is currently Professor of Astrophysics (1909) at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge.<ref name="prof1909">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/content/hiranya.peiris.appointed.professor.astrophysics.1909|website=www.ast.cam.ac.uk|title=Hiranya Peiris appointed Professor of Astrophysics (1909)|language=en|access-date=20 October 2023|archive-date=27 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027031833/https://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/content/hiranya.peiris.appointed.professor.astrophysics.1909|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was previously the Director of the Oskar Klein Centre for Cosmoparticle Physics at [[Stockholm University]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Prof Hiranya Peiris - Oskar Klein Centre |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/astrophysics/news/2016/sep/prof-hiranya-peiris-oskar-klein-centre |website=ucl.ac.uk |date=12 September 2016 |access-date=12 December 2023}}</ref> and a Professor of Astrophysics at [[University College London]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/physics-astronomy/people/academic-staff-profiles/hiranya-peiris|title=Prof Hiranya Peiris|website=ucl.ac.uk|language=en|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914012416/http://www.ucl.ac.uk/physics-astronomy/people/academic-staff-profiles/hiranya-peiris|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2012, the WMAP team (including Peiris) won the [[Gruber Cosmology Prize]] for their "''exquisite measurements of anisotropies in the relic radiation from the Big Bang—the Cosmic Microwave Background''".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://gruber.yale.edu/cosmology/2012-gruber-cosmology-prize-citation|title=2012 Gruber Cosmology Prize Citation {{!}} The Gruber Foundation|website=gruber.yale.edu|language=en|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref> WMAP's results on [[Inflation (cosmology)|cosmic inflation]], which Peiris contributed to, were described by [[Stephen Hawking]] as "the most exciting development in physics during his career".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21628965.700-2013-smart-guide-new-maps-to-rein-in-cosmic-inflation/|title=2013 Smart Guide: New maps to rein in cosmic inflation|work=New Scientist|access-date=12 December 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>
She was skeptical about the 2014 announcement of the discovery of [[Gravitational wave#Inflation|primordial]] [[gravitational wave]]s in the cosmic microwave background: ''"If they announce gravitational waves on Monday then I will need a great deal of convincing. But if they do have a robust detection ... Jesus wow! I'll be taking next week off."'' <ref name="Guardian 2014">{{cite news |title=Gravitational waves: have US scientists heard echoes of the big bang? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/mar/14/gravitational-waves-big-bang-universe-bicep#:~:text=Convincing%20evidence%20of%20their%20discovery,Jesus%2C%20wow! |access-date=24 August 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=14 March 2014 |language=en}}</ref> Her skepticism proved well-founded: on 30 January 2015, a joint analysis of [[BICEP and Keck Array|BICEP2]] and [[Planck (spacecraft)|Planck]] data was published and the [[European Space Agency]] announced that the signal can be entirely attributed to [[Cosmic dust|dust]] in the [[Milky Way]],<ref name="nature-20150130"> {{cite journal |last=Cowen |first=Ron |date=30 January 2015 |title=Gravitational waves discovery now officially dead |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |doi=10.1038/nature.2015.16830 |s2cid=124938210 }}</ref> though (non-primordial) gravitational waves have since been detected by different experiments.
In 2018, Peiris was awarded the [[Hoyle Medal and Prize|Hoyle Medal]] and Prize of the UK Institute of Physics for "her leading contributions to understanding the origin and evolution of cosmic structure."<ref name="HoyleMedel">{{Cite web|url=https://www.iop.org/about/awards/silver-subject-medals/fred-hoyle-medal-and-prize-recipients|title=2018 Fred Hoyle Medal and Prize|last=Physics|first=Institute of|website=iop.org|language=en-GB|access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref>
In 2020 Peiris was awarded the [[Göran Gustafsson Prize]] in physics by the Göran Gustafsson Foundation and the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]] "for her innovative research on the dynamics of the early universe, which links cosmological observations to basic physics".<ref name="GöranGustafssonPrize">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fysik.su.se/english/research/research-news/hiranya-peiris-is-awarded-the-g%C3%B6ran-gustafsson-prize-1.487825|title=Göran Gustafsson Prize|last=Physics Department|first=Stockholm University|website=fysik.su.se|language=en-GB|access-date=18 March 2020|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801191249/https://www.fysik.su.se/english/research/research-news/hiranya-peiris-is-awarded-the-g%C3%B6ran-gustafsson-prize-1.487825|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was also elected as a member of STFC Council, the senior strategic advisory body of the research council that funds particle physics and astronomy in the United Kingdom.<ref name="STFCCouncil">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ukri.org/people/hiranya-peiris/|title=STFC Council member - Professor Hiranya Peiris|publisher=STFC Council|website=ukri.org|language=en-GB|access-date=18 March 2020|archive-date=20 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520175129/https://www.ukri.org/people/hiranya-peiris/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2021, Peiris was awarded the [[Max Born Medal and Prize|Max Born Medal]] and Prize by the [[German Physical Society]] and the [[Eddington Medal]] of the Royal Astronomical Society in recognition of her contributions to cosmology.<ref name="maxmed" /><ref name="eddmed" />
Peiris was elected as a Foreign Member in the Physics Class of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA) in May 2022.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Kungl. Vetenskapsakademien |url=https://kva.se/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=kva.se}}</ref> In 2023, Peiris was appointed Professor of Astrophysics (1909) at the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge.<ref name="prof1909"/>
===Public engagement=== Alongside academic talks, Peiris gives public lectures about cosmology.<ref>{{Citation|last=The Royal Institution|title=Cosmology: Galileo to Gravitational Waves – with Hiranya Peiris|date=10 August 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HXOfIwl9Jo|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://telescoper.wordpress.com/tag/hiranya-peiris/|title=Hiranya Peiris {{!}} In the Dark|website=telescoper.wordpress.com|language=en|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref> She has written articles and given interviews for both radio and print media.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.quantamagazine.org/multiverse-proof-possibility-from-colliding-universes-20141110/|title=Multiverse Proof Possibility From Colliding Universes {{!}} Quanta Magazine|work=Quanta Magazine|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref> She has appeared on podcasts, television programs and the national news.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2019/may/24/cross-section-hiranya-peiris-science-weekly-podcast|title=Cross Section: Hiranya Peiris – Science Weekly podcast|newspaper=The Guardian|date=24 May 2019 |language=en|access-date=19 February 2021|last1=Devlin |first1=Hannah |last2=Jackson |first2=Graihagh }}</ref> In 2013 she gave a talk at TEDxCERN, "Multiplying Dimensions".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/5875|title=TEDxCERN {{!}} TED|website=ted.com|language=en|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref> That year she was selected as one of Astronomy's top ten rising stars by [[Astronomy (magazine)|Astronomy Magazine]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.earlyuniverse.org/astronomy-magazine-names-rising-stars-of-astronomy/|title=Astronomy Magazine names "Rising Stars of Astronomy"|website=earlyuniverse.org|language=en-US|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref>
{{anchor|EH-attack2014}}[[Maggie Aderin-Pocock#EH-attack2014|In 2014]], the [[pseudonymously]]-written Ephraim Hardcastle diary column in the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' claimed that Peiris (along with [[Maggie Aderin-Pocock]]) had been selected to discuss results from the [[BICEP and Keck Array|Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization]] 2 (BICEP-2) experiment on [[BBC]] ''[[Newsnight]]'' because of her gender and ethnicity. These comments were condemned by [[mainstream media]], the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] and Peiris' employer, University College London,<ref name="ind">{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/scientist-phd-in-astrophysics-shocked-by-reference-to-her-ethnicity-as-daily-mail-accused-of-9208841.html|title=Scientist (PhD in astrophysics) shocked by reference to her ethnicity|date=21 March 2014|work=The Independent|access-date=12 December 2017|language=en-GB|quote=A Mail spokesman said the paper fully accepted that the women were highly qualified in their field and that that was the reason they were chosen for interview. Yesterday’s Ephraim Hardcastle column stated: “I accept without questions that both ladies are highly qualified.”}}</ref><ref name=Guardian2014-03-21a>{{cite news |last1=Meikle |first1=James |title=Daily Mail accused of insulting top female scientists |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/21/daily-mail-accused-of-insulting-top-female-scientists |work=The Guardian |date=21 March 2014 |quote=A Mail spokesman made it clear that the paper fully accepts that the women were highly qualified in their field and that was the reason they were chosen for interview. The Mail is in contact with Professor Price.}}</ref> and the ''Daily Mail'' and its column backed down within days.<ref name="ind"/><ref name=Guardian2014-03-21a/> Peiris offered a rebuttal, "Groundbreaking science is blind to prejudice" in ''[[Times Higher Education]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/comment/opinion/groundbreaking-science-is-blind-to-prejudice/2012225.article|title=Groundbreaking science is blind to prejudice|date=27 March 2014|work=Times Higher Education (THE)|access-date=12 December 2017|language=en}}</ref>
In 2017, Peiris collaborated with artist Penelope Rose Cowley to create artwork entitled "Cosmoparticle".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.peneloperosecowley.com/store/p275/COSMOPARTICLE_%C2%A355.html|title=COSMOPARTICLE|website=Art by Penelope Rose Cowley|access-date=12 December 2017|archive-date=13 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213091402/http://www.peneloperosecowley.com/store/p275/COSMOPARTICLE_%C2%A355.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2018 Peiris contributed to an artwork by artist [[Goshka Macuga]], which was exhibited at a 2019 exhibition held at the [[Bildmuseet]], Sweden, featuring works by 14 international artists inspired by particle physics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://physicsworld.com/a/imaginative-intersection/|title=Imaginative intersection|website=physicsworld.com/|date=18 June 2020 |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clotmag.com/oped/entangled-realities-minding-the-gap-by-ariana-koek|title=Entangled Realities: Minding the Gap by Ariane Koek|website=clotmag.com|date=25 February 2020 |access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref>
===Awards and honours=== Peiris was a member of the 27-person team awarded the 2018 [[Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://breakthroughprize.org/Laureates/1/L3811|title=Breakthrough Prize – Fundamental Physics Laureates – Norman Jarosik and the WMAP Science Team|website=breakthroughprize.org|language=en|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref> The US $3 million award was given for the detailed maps of the early universe generated from [[Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe|WMAP]].<ref name="bthro">{{Cite web|url=https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/ras-vice-president-professor-hiranya-peiris-shares-breakthrough-prize|title=RAS Vice-President Professor Hiranya Peiris shares Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics|website=ras.ac.uk|date=12 December 2017 |language=en|access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref> [[WMAP]] is a [[NASA]] explorer mission that was launched in 2001, which has transformed modern cosmology.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/|title=Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP)|website=map.gsfc.nasa.gov|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref> Other prizes include:
[[File:Hiranya Peiris and Roger Davies, NAM 2012.jpg|thumb|Peiris receiving the Fowler Prize in 2012 from [[Roger Davies (astrophysicist)|Roger Davies]]]]
* 2022 – Elected a member of the [[Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences]]<ref name=":1" /> * 2021 – [[European Research Council#Advanced Grants|ERC Advanced Grant]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larsson |first=Per |title=Stockholm University receives four ERC Advanced Grants – Stockholm University |url=https://www.su.se/english/news/stockholm-university-receives-four-erc-advanced-grants-1.551820 |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=su.se |language=en}}</ref> * 2021 – [[Eddington Medal]], [[Royal Astronomical Society]]<ref name="eddmed">{{Cite web |url=https://ras.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2021-01/Peiris_Hiranya_Eddington_Medal.pdf |title=Eddington Medal 2021 – Professor Hiranya Peiris |publisher=Royal Astronomical Society |access-date=11 January 2021 }}</ref> * 2021 – [[Max Born Medal and Prize]] of the [[Institute of Physics]] and the [[German Physical Society]]<ref name="maxmed">{{Cite web|title=2021|url=https://www.dpg-physik.de/auszeichnungen/uebersicht-preisjahrgaenge/2021|access-date=21 November 2020|website=DPG|language=en}}</ref> * 2020 – Göran Gustafsson Prize in Physics, Göran Gustafsson Foundation and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences<ref name="GöranGustafssonPrize" /> * 2018 – [[Buchalter Cosmology Prize]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/cosmoparticle/news/2019/jan/cosmoparticle-physicists-awarded-share-buchalter-cosmology-prize/|title=Cosmoparticle Physicists awarded share in Buchalter Cosmology Prize |website=ucl.ac.uk|date=29 January 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=17 January 2022}}</ref> * 2018 – [[Fred Hoyle Medal and Prize]], [[Institute of Physics]]<ref name="HoyleMedel" /> * 2018 – [[Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/awardswon|title=Awards Won – Astrophysics Science Division – 660|website=science.gsfc.nasa.gov|language=en|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://breakthroughprize.org/Laureates/1/L3809|title=Fundamental Physics Breakthrough Prize|website=breakthroughprize.org|language=en|access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref> * 2014 – [[Buchalter Cosmology Prize]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.earlyuniverse.org/buchalter-cosmology-prize-for-bubble-collision-simulations/|title=Buchalter Cosmology Prize for Bubble Collision Simulations|website=earlyuniverse.org|language=en-US|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref> * 2012 – [[Gruber Prize]] for Cosmology, Gruber Foundation <ref name=":0" /> * 2012 – Fowler Prize, [[Royal Astronomical Society]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ras.org.uk/search/article-archive/2058-ras-honours-leading-astronomers-and-geophysicists|title=RAS honours leading astronomers and geophysicists|last=Massey|first=Robert|website=ras.org.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=12 December 2017}}</ref> * 2009 – [[Philip Leverhulme Prize]], Leverhulme Trust<ref>{{cite journal |title=Young researchers win Philip Leverhulme Prizes |journal=Astronomy & Geophysics |date=December 2009 |volume=50 |issue=6 |pages=6.08 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-4004.2009.50604_16.x |bibcode=2009A&G....50f...8. |doi-access=free }}</ref> * 2007 – Halliday Prize, STFC<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/skills/percase/physics/Peiris/|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20170714130556/http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/skills/percase/physics/Peiris/|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 July 2017|title=Dr Hiranya Peiris – Research Councils UK|website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=19 February 2021}}</ref> * 2007 – Kavli Frontiers Fellow, [[National Academy of Sciences]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Kavli Frontiers of Science Alumni |url=http://www.nasonline.org/programs/kavli-frontiers-of-science/frontiers-alumni/alumni-directory/hiranya-peiris.html |website=National Academy of Sciences}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www-nature-com.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/articles/s41550-026-02837-2 "Large language models are not the problem" ]. Anxiety about LLMs comes from low-quality work produced for "publish or perish". ''Nature Astronomy'' volume 10, pages 472–474 (April 20, 2026). Open access via Wiki Library of Science. An important paper. * [https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/46973 Oral history interview of Hiranya Peiris by David Zierler on April 21, 2021, Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD USA]
{{commonscat}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peiris, Hiranya}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:British women astrophysicists]] [[Category:British astrophysicists]] [[Category:British cosmologists]] [[Category:Sinhalese people]] [[Category:Sri Lankan physicists]] [[Category:Sri Lankan women scientists]] [[Category:Sri Lankan emigrants to the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Academics of University College London]] [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:21st-century British physicists]] [[Category:Fellows of the American Physical Society]] [[Category:Professors of Astrophysics (Cambridge)]] [[Category:21st-century British women physicists]]