The International Astronomical Union (IAU) congratulates Catherine Jeanne Cesarsky, a former IAU President, on receiving the 2024 Fritz Zwicky Prize for Astrophysics & Cosmology. Announcing the award, the European Astronomical Society (EAS) cited Cesarsky’s “outstanding contributions to the understanding of the evolution of galaxies via space infrared observations,” as well as her “leadership in shaping the observational infrastructure of contemporary astronomy.” The prestigious prize has been awarded biennially since 2020, recognising scientists who have obtained fundamental results related to astrophysics and cosmology.

Catherine Cesarsky began her career in the area of high-energy physics, obtaining a PhD from Harvard University in 1971 with a thesis focusing on cosmic rays, and then completing a postdoc at the California Institute of Technology. It was in this high-energy domain that she initially gained international recognition, continuing to work on it when she joined the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA) in France in 1974. In 1985 Cesarsky became head of astrophysics at CEA, and subsequently director of basic research in physics and chemistry in 1994.

During this time her interests shifted towards infrared astronomy. In particular, Cesarsky served as principal investigator in the design and construction of ISOCAM, the infrared camera that was installed on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Infrared Space Observatory (ISO). This space telescope operated from 1995 to 1998, and Cesarsky led the ISOCAM Central Programme, which studied and analysed infrared emission from a variety of sources. This work resulted in new insights into multiple areas of astronomy, including galaxy evolution, star formation in molecular clouds, and dust formation in supernovae.

Cesarsky also led the ITGES collaboration, which used ISOCAM to conduct deep, highly sensitive surveys, through which astronomers identified the types of galaxies that contributed most to the mid-infrared background, and discovered how the Universe’s population of infrared galaxies has changed over time.

Serving as Director General of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) from 1999 to 2007, Cesarsky oversaw the completion of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the early days of its operation. She also made important contributions to progressing the construction of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), and helped to transform the La Silla Observatory into a thriving research facility. Towards the end of her tenure, Cesarsky spearheaded the conceptual and early design phases of ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) project.

Cesarsky has long been an active member of the IAU, having previously chaired the IAU Commission 48 on High-Energy Astrophysics. In 2006, she was elected President of the IAU at the XXVI IAU General Assembly in Prague, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She led the organisation for three years until 2009, during which she had a leading role in coordinating the United Nations International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009). This worldwide celebration was designated to mark 400 years since Galileo Galilei made the first astronomical observation with a telescope, and involved events at the regional, national, and global levels. Cesarsky remains a member of IAU Division D High Energy Phenomena and Fundamental Physics, Division H Interstellar Matter and Local Universe, and Division J Galaxies and Cosmology.

Cesarsky has held many other leadership roles in large research institutes and governmental organisations, having served as High Commissioner for Atomic Energy in France, Chair of ESA’s Space Science Advisory Committee, and Chair of the High-level committee on large-scale science infrastructures for the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. She continues to play an active role in cutting-edge astronomical endeavours, currently chairing the Council of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO).

More information

The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together more than 12 000 active professional astronomers from more than 100 countries worldwide. Its mission is to promote and safeguard astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers.

Links

• 2024 Fritz Zwicky Prize for Astrophysics & Cosmology

Contacts

Lars Lindberg Christensen
IAU Director of Communications
Cell: +1 520 461 0433/+49 173 38 72 621
Email: lars.christensen@noirlab.edu