Q&A with Anny Cazenave, French Geophysicist and 2020 Witsen Prize Winner
French geophysicist Anne Cazenave For more than two decades, satellites have been used to study climate and environmental science, with a focus on sea level rise and hydrology. Before that, Cazenave was a pioneer in the field of space geodesy, which uses satellites to measure fundamental properties of the Earth, including its shape, spatial orientation and gravitational field.
For her pioneering work in the geosciences, Cazenavi will be celebrated and showcased with the prestigious 2020 Whitson Award This April at Columbia University (postponed by three years due to COVID-19).
Anny Cazenave, 2020 Wittelsen Award for Achievement in Earth Sciences. (courtesy of Anne Cazenave)
As emeritus scientist of the French Space Geophysics and Oceanography Research Laboratory and former Director of Geosciences at the International Space Science Institute in Switzerland, Cazenave will also share the stage with the 2023 Laureate Physicist David Colstedt. The Wittelsen Prize is awarded by Columbia Climate Schoolof Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
For memory International Day of Women and Girls in ScienceIt’s a day designated by the United Nations to call for improved opportunities and equitable participation for women and girls in science, and we spoke to Cazenave about her career path, the Vetlesen Prize, and ways to encourage more women and girls to enter the field.
The following interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What inspired you to pursue geoscience and climate research?
When I was a college student, I originally wanted to be an astronomer. But instead of looking up to the sky, I have spent my life looking down at the earth. I have never regretted it. In the 1970s, I got a doctorate studying the rotation of the Earth and was hired to work for the French space center CNES. Space agencies at the time were working to quantify the forces acting on satellites in order to accurately calculate their orbits.I started using different spaces for my research Geodesy A technique for determining the Earth’s gravitational field.
I also wanted to extend this research further, so I also looked at the origin of gravitational field anomalies, such as anomalies in the Earth’s internal structure. As space geodetic techniques improved over time, it gave me the opportunity to study other solid Earth processes, such as the vertical motion of the crust, large-scale tectonic deformation, motion of the Earth’s center of mass, high and low mean sea levels, and how they relate to Subsea Topography Links.
The TOPEX/Poseidon high-precision altimetry mission jointly developed by NASA and the French National Space Research Center used an airborne altimeter to accurately measure sea surface topography and ocean currents for the first time, opening the era of “space oceanography” in the early 1990s. I chose to go into this new field and started using satellite altimeters to measure climate-related sea level rise and its causes. I have also been studying terrestrial hydrology and the global water cycle using satellite altimetry (a technique that also measures changes in water levels in rivers and lakes) and space-based gravimetry (which provides measurements of changes in land water storage). For the past two decades, my research has focused on climate and environmental science using satellites. Turning to this very new field 20 years ago was a challenging but rewarding process for me.
What project are you working on now?
I’m currently researching sea level rise and climate change. Together with my colleagues, we routinely use altimeter satellites to measure sea level change from global to local (coastal) scales. We’re also working to quantify the processes responsible for sea level rise, namely ocean warming and land ice loss. At the same time, we study sea level rise and its associated impacts in the world’s coastal regions.
I’m also a co-principal investigator project From the European Research Council, dedicated to studying the deep interior of the Earth using globally observable measures such as the Earth’s magnetic and gravitational fields, as well as observations of the Earth’s rotation.
How does it feel to be Wittelsen champion? Are you looking forward to finally visiting Columbia in April and accepting this honor?
It is an honor, an honor and a great honor to receive the Vetlesen Award. When I see the list of previous winners, I feel very humbled compared to these prestigious scientists. Overall, I am delighted and proud that our field of research has been recognized. I sincerely thank the colleagues who nominated me and the Vetlesen jury who chose me.I look forward to the ceremony in New York in April and am excited to see this year’s Award winner!
How challenging was it to be a woman scientist when you were first starting out? Do you think things have changed significantly since then?
Overall, the number of women working in science in Europe has been growing over the past few decades. Still, it’s very low in some scientific fields and everywhere at the highest level. There are obviously several reasons for this. Based on my own experience in the field, I don’t think it’s the result of sexism or discrimination. But I do think that there are complex cultural and social factors subconsciously convincing women that scientific research is more suitable for men. In addition, many women scientists have given up on the idea of holding senior research positions because they see it as a way of exercising power, which they believe is a right reserved only for men. There’s also the struggle of parenting and family commitments, and combining them with high-level research obligations. Too many women are taught that it is natural to give up their scientific ambitions for family commitments and responsibilities.
In my own life, I have chosen to prioritize productivity and scientific expertise over other responsibilities, while balancing family demands and research participation to the best of my ability. In France, I have benefited from a government system that provides a lot of support for women, including nurseries and recreation centers to take care of children during school holidays. In general, I’ve never found being a woman in science to be a hindrance. For me, research excellence, curiosity and enthusiasm should always be the main goals, whether you are a man or a woman.
How else can we continue to support women scientists? Do you have any advice for young women or girls interested in entering the field?
Veteran women scientists (like me) can help younger generations embark on scientific career paths. We can certainly start by working with women PhDs and postdocs at lab level, by teaching and supporting them to build confidence, strive for excellence and work with passion. It is also easy and important to encourage and help junior scientists apply for research grants, share our own scientific networks, and help them navigate and participate in international meetings and conferences so they can develop confidence and scientific visibility. It is important to encourage women scientists to join science policy committees and serve on panels and panels that select grant and award recipients and recruit candidates, so we can increase the proportion of women in influential decision-making in the field. A clearer strategy is needed, including the nomination of women scientists for national and international awards. We know that field-specific and national mentorship programs can be very helpful to young women scientists, but these still need to be better developed. I think the hardest barrier to overcome is the cultural barrier, which starts in childhood. Early education should teach children to shed gender bias and stereotypes, and to start experimenting with science from an early age. Many countries, especially those in the European Union, have struggled to teach children that science is not just for boys, and that girls and boys have similar intelligence. Women scientists should also consider participating in meetings and exchanges with younger students and taking the opportunity to answer their scientific questions. I visit colleges and high schools several times a year and find these interactions very satisfying.
