The prizes were given on Thursday the 6th of June 2013 at Montpellier.
Young Scientist
Kevin Belkacem, CNRS research felllow, received the young scientist prize (an HP portable computer) for his work on stellar seismology using the Corot and Kepler satellites. After his doctorate, defended in 2008 at the Paris Observatory, he obtained a post at the Observatory in 2011. The award recognizes the high quality of his research in stellar and solar physics. Kevin Belkacem investigated the forcing induced by turbulent convection in the Sun.
He has also used space based observations which probe the interior structure of stars, to obtain their masses and radii. He has helped to unveil the cores of red giant stars, which burn hydrogen in layers surrounding the helium core. This research constitutes part of the essential groundwork needed to prepare for ESA’s new satellite project Plato.
France-Spain collaboration
The astronomer Emmanuel Lellouch shares the 3000 euros prize, awarded to the franco-spanish collaboration, with an Andalusian colleague for a collaborative study of the small icy bodies which are in the far reaches of the solar system : the transneptunian bodies. The prize, awarded by the SF2A and the Spanish Astronomical Society (Société espagnole d’astronomie SEA) is shared with Pablo Santos-Sanz of the Andalusian Astrophysical Institute. It is for a project which aims to define the physical characteristics (size, reflectivity and thermal properties) of the transneptunian objects, using radiometry and stellar occultations.
Previous laureates
at Observatoire de Paris
Members of Observatoire de Paris who have received the young scientist prize in the past, awarded since 1986 by the SF2A in partnership with HP-AMD, :
- 2009
Pierre Kervella
- 2007
Coralie Neiner
- 2005
Guy Perrin
- 2000
Emmanuel Lellouch (ex-æquo)
- 1998
Éric Gourgoulhon
- 1992
Dominique Bockelée-Morvan
- 1990
Claude Catala
- 1987
Laurent Nottale
[1] Members of Laboratoire d’Études Spatiales et d’Instrumentation en Astrophysique LESIA (Laboratory for Space Research and Instrumentation in Astrophysics), a science department of Observatoire de Paris. LESIA is associated to CNRS, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université Paris Diderot.