Athena Coustenis receives the EGU Jean Dominique Cassini 2023 medal

Athéna Coustenis, director of research of exceptional rank at the Laboratory of Space Studies and Instrumentation in Astrophysics (LESIA) of Paris-PSL Observatory, is known and respected worldwide for her significant contributions to the study of planetary atmospheres and surfaces in the outer solar system and beyond.

Athena Coustenis has obtained significant results through her research based on ground-based observations and her participation in international space missions. She has acquired new knowledge on the objects of the outer solar system (Saturn, Jupiter and their icy moons), in particular on Titan, the moon of Saturn. She has made an original contribution to space missions as co-investigator of three instruments on the Cassini/Huygens mission.

Athena Coustenis is currently co-investigator of the JANUS camera on the JUICE mission. She is also involved in future space missions that will explore exoplanets, for example as co-investigator of the upcoming missions to the moons of Mars (MMX) and exoplanets (ARIEL).

Athena is respected as a scientist, author and co-author of over 180 refereed publications, book author, and Chair of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Panel on Planetary Protection (PPP) and Chair of the CNES Committee on Evaluation of Space Research and Exploration (CERES).

She has held numerous committee positions in Europe and the United States. She has served as Chair of the Human Exploration and Science Advisory Committee (HESAC) of the European Space Agency, Chair of the Space Science Committee of the European Science Foundation (ESF/ESSC), Chair of the Planetary Science Division of the EGU, and Vice President of the Europlanet Society. Athena Coustenis is therefore a role model in her field of research and a great ambassador of the EGU.