In recent years, efforts have been undertaken by the City of Paris to rebalance and diversify the names of the capital’s roads.
Nicole-Reine-Lepaute emerged from oblivion thanks to a route named after her, in the 13th arrondissement, in 2007.
In April 2021, near the Observatory, in the 6th arrondissement, a change was made to a street sign, modest in number of characters, but powerful in symbolic terms.
By decision of the Paris Council, the name of rue Caroline-et-William-Herschel replaced that of rue Heschel. The path now bears the names of the two German astronomers: Caroline Herschel (1750-1848) and her brother William Herschel (1738-1822), highlighting Caroline’s contribution to science, and no longer just that of her brother, to whom we owe the discovery of the planet Uranus.
A few months later, under the leadership of the Femmes et Sciences association, it was the turn of the Frot-Phalsbourg square located in the Roquette district to be renamed after Edmée Chandon.
Born in the 11th arrondissement of Paris on November 21, 1885, Edmée Chandon was the first woman in France to be recruited as an "aide-astronome"... a professional accolade bestowed on her by the Observatoire de Paris on March 1, 1912.
On the day of the inauguration of the "Edmée Chandon" square, Fabienne Casoli, President of Observatoire de Paris - PSL, was present alongside Isabelle Pianet, then president of the Femmes & Sciences association, as well as Marie- Christine Lemardeley, Deputy Mayor of Paris in charge of higher education and research.
Of these last two plaques affixed in 2021, the Observatoire de Paris today retains a copy in its heritage.
