News
DECEMBER 2024 – MIOARA MANDEA BECOMES 2024 AGU FELLOW
The AGU Fellows program honors distinguished members who have made outstanding contributions to Earth and space science, whether through groundbreaking discoveries, innovative research, or transformative advancements in their field. Fellows are not only recognized for their scientific excellence but also serve as external experts, offering guidance and expertise to government agencies and other organizations beyond the scientific community when called upon. Mioara Mandea has been acknowledged for her remarkable achievements and recognized as a leading figure in Earth and space sciences. This prestigious recognition highlights both her significant contributions to research and her unwavering commitment to science and science policy. It is a well-deserved honor that celebrates her dedication to advancing knowledge in her field.
NOVEMBER 2024 – MIOARA MANDEA AND ANNY CAZENAVE ARE NOMINATED HONORARY FELLOWS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF INDIA
Geological Society of India, dedicated to advancing Earth sciences, recognizes outstanding scientists who have made significant contributions to the field of geology and geophysics. Two such notable awardees are Anny Cazenave and Mioara Mandea, elected as Honorary Fellows for their profound impacts on our understanding of our Planet dynamics.
OCTOBER 2024 – MIOARA MANDEA WON THE DOLOMIEU PRIZE OF THE ACADÉMIE DES SCIENCES DE PARIS
Congratulations to Mioara Mandea, recipient of the Dolomieu Prize of the Académie des sciences (prize established by the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières - BRGM). This prize recognizes Mioara’s research on the variations of the Earth's magnetic field, using both in situ and satellite observations. Her research particularly delves into "geomagnetic jerks," valuable insights into the dynamics of Earth's deep interior.
JUNE 2024 – FELIX GERICK GOT THE SEDI DOORNBOS PRIZE
As indicated in the SEDI website, the Doornbos Memorial Prize is presented to a young scientist by the Committee on Studies of the Earth's Deep Interior (SEDI), in association with their biennial meetings, for outstanding work on the Earth's deep interior. It is given in honor of the Dutch seismologist, Durk Doornbos. Felix Gerick (second from the left on the photo) got it at the last SEDI meeting in Great Barrington MA, USA, from 23th to 28th of June 2024. Felix is working on the so-called Magneto-Coriolis (MC) modes, i.e. linear modes for which the Coriolis acceleration is almost entirely in balance with the Lorentz force. These MC modes are thought to exist in Earth’s liquid outer core and could therefore contribute to the variations observed in Earth’s magnetic field.
MAY 2024 - VERONIQUE DEHANT AT HER INDUCTION CEREMONY AT THE US NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Photo credit to the National Academy of Sciences
In 2023, Véronique Dehant was elected as International member of the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Members are elected to the NAS “in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.” Membership is a widely regarded as a mark of excellence in science and is considered one of the highest honors that a scientist can receive. The current NAS membership totals approximately 2,400 members and 500 international members, of which approximately 190 have received Nobel prizes (see https://www.nasonline.org/about-nas/membership/). In May 2024, Véronique Dehant (pictured on the left) participated in her induction ceremony alongside Maria Leptin, President of the ERC (pictured on the right).
AUGUST 2023 – VERONIQUE DEHANT NOMINATED “GRAND OFFICIER DE L’ORDRE DE LA COURONNE”
Veronique Dehant was nominated Commander of the order of Leopold II in 2016. In 2023, she has been nominated “Grand Officier de l’Ordre de la Couronne” (Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown) by Royal Decree. The Order of the Crown is awarded for services rendered to the Belgian State, especially for meritorious service in the civil service. The Order of the Crown is awarded for significant artistic, literary or scientific merits, in the sphere of commercial and industrial interests or for services rendered to the country or to Africa.
JULY 2023 – MIOARA MANDEA PRESIDENT-ELECT OF IUGG
On July 18, 2023, Mioara Mandea (CNES and PI of this ERC) was elected as future President of IUGG (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics) after a vote of the different country-members. The IUGG is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to the scientific study of Earth and its space environment using geophysical and geodetic techniques.
The photo (from Jan Pauls Fotografie) show the actual out-going President of IUGG, Kathryn Whaler (on the left) with Mioara Mandea (on the right).
Kathryn Waller was President for the period 2019-2023, Chris Rizos is becoming President for the period 2023-2027, and Mioara Mandea will be President during the period 2027-2031.
JUNE 2023 – ISABELLE PANET GETS THE GRAND PRIX SCIENTIFIQUE OF THE INSTITUT DE FRANCE
On June 21, 2023, Isabelle Panet from IPGP (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris) and IGN (Institut National de l'Information Géographique et Forestière) will get the Grand Prix Scientifique of the Institut de France “Simone and Cino del Duca”.
The Simone and Cino Del Duca Foundation of the Institut de France awards each year alternately in respect of the disciplines falling under the two divisions of the Academy of Sciences on the proposal of the jury made up of members of the Academy of Sciences, a Scientific Grand Prize. This rewards a French or European researcher working in a French laboratory and their team, presenting an ambitious research project on a promising topic.
This year, the theme was Deep Earth. Isabelle Panet is awarded on June 21st for her work on the gravitational footprint of the short-term subduction and long-term mantle convection.
https://www.academie-sciences.fr/en/Prix-en-chimie-et-sciences-du-vivant/grand-prix-scientifique-fondation-simone-et-cino-del-duca.html
JUNE 2023 – MIOARA MANDEA GETS PROMOTED AT THE GRADE OF OFFICER IN THE NATIONAL ORDER OF MERIT
On June 7, 2023, Mioara Mandea gets promoted at the grade of “Officier dans l’ordre national du mérite”.
L’Ordre national du Mérite, the National Order of Merit, is an institution of the French Republic born in the middle of the 20th century. The National Order of Merit is the second national Order after the Legion of Honor. Its purpose is to reward "distinguished merit" and encourage the lifeblood of the country. It aims at reflecting a dynamic society, setting an example or recognizing diversity.
https://www.legiondhonneur.fr/en/page/national-order-merit/400
MAY 2023 – VERONIQUE DEHANT ELECTED BY THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
On May 2, 2023, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of the United States of America announced the election of its new members. Veronique Dehant, researcher at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, was elected as an international member.
Those elected on this day bring the total number of active members to 2,565 and the total number of international members to 526.
The NAS 2023 election: http://www.nasonline.org/news-and-multimedia/news/2023-nas-election.html
FEBRUARY 2023 - ANNY CAZENAVE CELEBRATED FOR THE VETLESEN PRIZE
After a three-year delay due to COVID-19 (see announcement in January 2020 on this site), Anny Cazenave will be celebrated and presented with the prestigious 2020 Vetlesen Prize at Columbia University this April 2023. She was awarded the Vetlesen Prize for her groundbreaking work in Earth sciences. At this point in time, 11 February 2023, it is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The Columbia University took this occasion to publish an interview of Anny Cazenave (here) and put Anny in the spotlight.
JANUARY 2023 - MULTIDECADAL ROTATION VARIATIONS OF THE INNER CORE
Researchers from the ERC GRACEFUL team (GRavimetry, mAgnetism, rotation and CorE FLow) have looked into the results of a recent Nature Geoscience article. The researchers who work on Earth's core insist that the article should not be interpreted in terms of the rotation of the Earth's outer core but of the solid inner core inside the core. The authors of the Nature Geoscience paper, Yi Yang and Xiadong Song of Peking University (China), study seismic waves that pass through the inner core and deviate slightly from their path relative to a rotational state of the inner core locked to the Earth's mantle. These small deviations correspond to very small variations of the inner core rotation of the order of 0.1°/year and with a 65 year period. The study does not claim that the inner core would have stopped spinning or would have started spinning in the other direction (i.e. from east to west). Such a spontaneous reversal is impossible according to the laws of physics and would have quite spectacular consequences for the magnetic field generated in the liquid core, which would have been observed. However, none of this happened.
See news here
October 2022 – Mioara Mandea and Anny Cazenave, Fellows of the European Academy of Sciences
Anny Cazenave and Mioara Mandea have been nominated as Fellows of the European Academy of Sciences (EURASC). The EURASC promotes excellence in science and technology and their essential roles in fostering social and economic development and progress. The EURASC distinguishes scholars and engineers performing forefront research and the development of advanced technologies, united by a commitment to promoting science and technology and their essential roles in fostering social and economic development.
May 2022 - ANNY CAZENAVE, RECIPIENT OF THE WIA-EUROPE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2021
Join ESA and Women in Aerospace (WIA)-Europe in celebrating scientist Dr. Anny Cazenave, French space geodesist and one of the pioneers in satellite altimetry. Dr. Cazenave is the recipient of the 2021 WIA-Europe Outstanding Achievement Award that has been presented to her during the Living Planet Symposium in Bonn on 24 May 2022. WIA-Europe yearly confers this award, honoring noteworthy accomplishments and exemplary leadership abilities of individuals as a recognition within the space community and as an inspiration for the new generations. In particular, successful female role models are of crucial importance to young people entering the STEM field. To see her interview: https://www.wia-europe.org/2022/04/21/interview-with-anny-cazenave/
March 2022 – Mioara Mandea, awarded with Emil-Wiechert Medal, Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft
Mioara Mandea, geophysicist from CNAP (National Council of Astronomers and Physicians), Scientific Coordination Director, Strategy Department at CNES, is the winner of the Emil Wiechert medal, the highest distinction awarded by the DGG (Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft). Every 3 to 5 years, the latter recognizes outstanding work in the scientific discipline of geophysics, and only 22 medals have been awarded since its creation in 1955. Mioara Mandea is awarded "for his outstanding scientific achievements in the field of geomagnetism and the measurement of potential fields, via ground and satellite means” and his “innovative interdisciplinary work which focuses on the link between geomagnetism and gravimetry. »
With a doctorate in geophysics from the University of Bucharest and a doctorate in internal geophysics from the IPGP (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris), Mioara Mandea is interested in the variations of the Earth's magnetic field and its use in the study of the deep structure of the Earth, a discipline completely renewed for three decades by observation from space. We owe Mioara Mandea several major scientific advances, both in terms of observation of the Earth's magnetic field from the ground and by satellites, and of its interpretation as a function of the internal structure of the Earth. Among her most important contributions are her works on geomagnetic jerks (very rapid changes in the magnetic field generated by the Earth's core), on the decadal variations of the magnetic field and the movements of the Earth's liquid core, making it possible to better understand the origin of the earth's dynamo. Her work on the complex processes at the core-mantle interface by the combined analysis of magnetic and gravity fields is based on data provided by French or European space missions.
To see her invited presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WLXuMaT4Oo
January 2022 – MIOARA MANDEA, HEAD "SCIENCE COORDINATION" DEPARTMENT, STRATEGY DIRECTORATE AT CNES (CENTRE NATIONAL D'ETUDES SPATIALES) PARIS
Mioara Mandea, was nominated Head "Science Coordination" Department, Strategy Directorate at CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) Paris. She was previously responsible for the Solid Earth program at CNES, which includes internal geophysics, geodynamics, geodesy, as well as the effects of the dynamics of the Solid Earth on the external envelopes.
The use of the satellite data improve the knowledge both on a static and a dynamics level of the system Earth. So, this theme, by using satellite data (magnetism, gravimetry, geodesy, surface imaging), complementary of those in situ, place importance on understanding the history of the Earth, deciphering the structure of the inside of the Earth, from the surface to the center of the core, explaining the phenomena which occur in the mantle and the core, analyzing the part of volcanism, tectonics, erosion on climate and biodiversity, understanding earthquakes.
January 2022 - JÉRÉMY REKIER, WINNER OF THE 2021 CONTEST OF THE ACADÉMIE ROYALE
Jérémy Rekier is a postdoctoral researcher in the physics of the Earth’s rotation and interior, which he studies by developing numerical models within the ERC Advance Grant RotaNut and the ERC Synergy Grant GRACEFUL. He received the award in response to a question from the Academy, which is looking for new research in the field of astronomy and physics this year.
The question of this year concerned ‘an original contribution, experimental or theoretical, to the physics of the Earth’s core or that of the telluric planets’. The Academy focused its attention on Dr Rekier’s manuscript, entitled ‘The role of inertial waves in the internal dynamics of terrestrial planets’.
Jérémy Rekier’s master’s thesis presents recent theoretical developments based on numerical and analytical modelling by him and the GRACEFUL team at the Royal Observatory of Belgium on the dynamics of liquid cores of rotating planets. The jury praised the effort made to highlight the link between these developments and the founding work of great scientists such as W. Thomson (Lord Kelvin), G. H. Bryan, S. Hough, E. Cartan, or H. Poincaré, whose contribution was so central that the fundamental equation of the discipline bears his name. The jury also judged that the results presented were ‘original, significant and of high quality’.
Link to the website of the Royal Belgian Academy: https://www.academieroyale.be/fr/actualites-detail/messages/classe-sciences-laureats-prix-2021/
October 2021 - VÉRONIQUE DEHANT RECEIVED HER PRIX QUINQUENNAL OF THE FNRS AT BOZAR
Véronique Dehant, researcher at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, has just been officially awarded the Dr De Leeuw-Damry-Bourlart Prize in Fundamental Exact Sciences, one of the five Prix Quinquennaux of the FNRS (Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique).
The award ceremony took place on Monday 4 October 2021 at 10:00 at the Palais des Beaux-Arts (Bozar), in the presence of King Philippe. It was the occasion to reward the five new laureates of the Prix Quinquennaux of the FNRS as well as the five laureates of the Excellentieprijzen of the FWO (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek). The Prix Quinquennaux were awarded on 14 September 2020. Due to the sanitary restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the official ceremony has been postponed to 2021.
The FNRS wishes, by means of these prizes, to honour every five years the exceptional work and careers of researchers from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation from various disciplines (exact sciences, biomedical sciences, humanities and social sciences).
The Prix Quinquennal of the FNRS awarded to Véronique Dehant underlines the importance of her work on the rotation and interior of the Earth, planets and moons, as well as her key role in the development of space missions and instruments such as RISE on board NASA’s InSight mission and LaRa on ESA’s second ExoMars mission.
Link to the FNRS website (in French): https://www.frs-fnrs.be/fr/l-actualite-fnrs/1691-ceremonie-de-remise-des-prix-quinquennaux-du-fnrs
January 2021 – MIOARA MANDEA, CORRESPONDING MEMBER DU BUREAU DES LONGITUDES DE PARIS
As Member in Extraordinary Service representing the CNES
Mioara Mandea is currently the Head of the “Solid Earth” Program at Earth Observation / CNES Strategy and Programs Department. She is also Secretary General of the European Geoscience Union, Secretary General of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (AIGA), and President of the Geophysical Maps Sub-Commission (CCGM). Mioara Mandea graduated in geological engineering and geophysics from the University of Bucharest, is a doctor from the University of Bucharest in geophysics and geophysical prospecting (1993), doctor in internal geophysics from the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (1996). She received the Habilitation to Direct Research from the University of Paris VII in 2001.
Mioara Mandea has published more than 250 articles (publications in ISI journals, journals, books and other book chapters, works and reports), and has been involved in the organization of workshops and conferences. She has supervised more than ten students during their doctoral studies. Mioara Mandea received the Van Straelen Prize (Geological Society of France) and the International Award (AGU), the Petrus Peregrinus Medal from the EGU. She is a Member of the Academy of Sciences of Romania (2008), of the Academia Europaea (2015) and an associate member in the Science Class of the Royal Academy of Belgium (2018). In 2016, she was named Knight of the National Order of Merit (Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite).
September 2020 - VÉRONIQUE DEHANT, WINNER OF A FNRS QUINQUENNIAL PRIZE
On 14 September 2020, the Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS) awarded Véronique Dehant, researcher at the Royal Observatory of Belgium, the Dr. De Leeuw-Damry-Bourlart Prize in Fundamental Exact Sciences, one of the FNRS Quinquennial Prizes. These prizes reward researchers from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
Link to the FNRS website (in French): https://www.frs-fnrs.be/fr/l-actualite-fnrs/1243-le-fnrs-recompense-l-excellence-de-la-recherche-et-decerne-ses-5-prix-quinquennaux-2020
January 2020 – ANNY CAZENAVE, LAUREATE OF THE 2020 VETLESEN PRIZE
Anny Cazenave, Emeritus Research Scientist at the LEGOS space geophysics and oceanography research laboratory, expert adviser to CNES and fellow of the French Academy of Sciences, has received the 2020 Vetlesen Prize for achievement in Earth sciences. The Vetlesen Prize, established in 1959 by the Vetlesen Foundation, is awarded for “Scientific achievement resulting in a clearer understanding of the Earth, its history, or its relation to the universe.” Anny Cazenave, PI of GRACEFUL, pioneered the use of satellite data to chart global and regionals sea level rise and related changes in ice sheets, landmasses and freshwater bodies. As a result of her research, scientists have been able to make direct connections between climate change and the mechanisms of sea level rise.
To see her achievement: https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2020/01/21/pioneer-in-spotting-modern-sea-level-rise-to-receive-2020-vetlesen-prize/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9CSyhUPq00