Astronomer Merieme Chadid is the first Moroccan — and one of the first women — to lead a major scientific expedition to Antarctica, where she planted the Moroccan flag at the geographic South Pole.
**Merieme Chadid** is one of the most internationally recognised Moroccan scientists of her generation. Born in **Casablanca in 1969**, she became an astronomer, an explorer and a fierce advocate for women in science.
**From Casablanca to the Cosmos:**
After studying physics in Morocco, Chadid earned a PhD in astrophysics in France and built a career between Nice Observatory and major international observatories, focusing on stellar pulsations and high-precision photometry.
**An Expedition to Antarctica:**
In the early 2000s, Chadid led the deployment of major astronomical instruments at the **Concordia Station / Dome C site**, deep on the Antarctic plateau — one of the best places on Earth to observe the sky thanks to its dryness, cold and altitude. She helped install telescopes that would open a new window onto the southern sky.
**The Moroccan Flag at the South Pole:**
In **2005**, during her Antarctic mission, Chadid became the **first Moroccan ever to reach the geographic South Pole**, where she planted the Moroccan flag — an iconic image that travelled across Moroccan and international media.
**Recognition:**
Chadid is a member of the **International Astronomical Union** and has been honoured by UNESCO and various scientific bodies. She has served on international panels shaping the future of large telescopes and Antarctic astronomy.
**A Voice for Women in Science:**
Beyond her research, Chadid is a tireless advocate for **women and young people in STEM**, especially in the Arab and African worlds. Her trajectory — from a Casablanca classroom to the South Pole — has become a powerful reminder that Moroccan scientific ambition has no geographic limits.