13 Facts About Merieme Chadid

Merieme Chadid is a Moroccan-French astronomer, explorer and astrophysicist.

Merieme Chadid leads international polar scientific programs and has been committed to installing a major astronomical observatory at the heart of Antarctica.

In 1992, Merieme Chadid graduated from the University of Hassan II Casablanca with a master's degree in Physics and Mathematics.

Merieme Chadid obtained the highest university qualification degree Habilitation HDR, a second PhD, at the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis.

Merieme Chadid joined the Centre national de la recherche scientifique and then the European Southern Observatory soon after earning her PhD.

Merieme Chadid worked on European Southern Observatory for the installation of The Very Large Telescope, the largest telescope in the world at the time, in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile.

Merieme Chadid has been Vice President of the International Astronomical Union since 2021, Division G, Stars and Stellar Physics, and a steering committee member of the International Astronomical Union.

Merieme Chadid became the first Moroccan as well as the first female French astronomer to reach the heart of Antarctica, and the first to plant an Arab and an African flag in Antarctica in 2005 when she achieved her first polar expedition to set up a new observatory.

Merieme Chadid is considered the world's first astronomer to be committed to installing the large astronomical observatory in Antarctica, where she has carried out pioneering work.

Merieme Chadid promotes education by giving lectures, attending conferences, supervising students, and her documentary on astronomy, Tarik Annujah, has played on the Al Jazeera Children's Channel.

Merieme Chadid's most published research aims to understand and decipher early star formation and the stellar evolution and pulsation towards of understanding of the Universe.

Merieme Chadid was listed by Forbes magazine as one of the thirty most interesting and fascinating workers in the world.

Merieme Chadid has been married to Jean Vernin, Director of Research of Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, since 31 March 2001; they have two children.