10 Facts About Conny Aerts

Conny Aerts is associated with KU Leuven and Radboud University, where she leads the Chair in the Astroseismology group.

Conny Aerts received her Bachelor and Master in Mathematics from the University of Antwerp.

Conny Aerts participated in the International Astronomical Youth Camp in 1987 and 1988.

Conny Aerts then went on to complete her PhD in 1993 at KU Leuven.

Conny Aerts was a postdoctoral fellow with the Fund for Scientific Research from 1993 to 2001, when she was appointed lecturer at KU Leuven.

Conny Aerts became first associate professor in 2004, and then full professor in 2007 at KU Leuven.

Conny Aerts is currently the Belgian principal investigator on the PLATO mission.

Conny Aerts uses this to determine the star structure and inform stellar models within stellar evolution theory.

Conny Aerts has twice been awarded an Advanced Grant by the European Research Council : in 2008 for PROSPERITY, and again in 2015 for a project entitled MAMSIE.

Conny Aerts is outspoken about the need to increase gender equality in the sciences, and is a member of the International Astronomical Union Women in Astronomy Working Group.