Researcher receives top award for work on meteorites and Martian geology

A Leicester researcher who has studied meteorites from the outer solar system and researches Martian geology has received a top award.

Francesca Willcocks of the University of Leicester’s £100 million science and innovation park, Space Park Leicester, has received The Geological Society’s Murchison Fund 2025 award in recognition of the excellent contribution she has made to geoscience research.

The PhD student’s previous work has included research into the Winchcombe meteorite, which was the first to be found on UK soil for 30 years in 2021 and is a type of meteorite that is considered to be among the oldest objects in the solar system.

More recently, Francesca’s research has focussed on the exploration of Gale Crater by NASA’s Curiosity Rover and preparations for Mars Sample Return using geological analogue materials at the University of Leicester.

Francesca said: “I've been very lucky to have contributed to a range of planetary science research, including meteorite classifications and the Winchcombe meteorite while I was undertaking my planetary geology research Masters at the University of Plymouth. 

“I worked on the coarse-grained mineralogy team alongside my colleagues at Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre at the time, within the national consortium of planetary scientists that collaborated on the meteorite classification and research. 

“I'm incredibly grateful to have received the Murchison Fund 2025 and to have my contribution to planetary research and efforts towards scientific outreach recognised by such a prestigious society. 

“I'm looking forward to continuing my research on Martian geology throughout my PhD and continuing to introduce analytical techniques and planetary science to a wider audience.”

The Murchison Fund has been given to outstanding early career researchers annually since 1873. It is accompanied by an award of £500 and is named after Sir Roderick Murchison who served as director-general of the British Geological Survey from 1855 until his death in 1871.