As a long distance runner, the world ‘endurance’ is very special to me. Endurance to me is the ability to keep going, putting one foot in front of the other; no matter how hard it gets, no matter what you face and how you feel. Endurance to me is discipline over sporadic passion and inspiration. Endurance to me is the rise of the human spirit when faced with the words ‘impossible’. Now on, Endurance for me is also Merieme Chadid. Let me tell you why.

South Pole and some of the highest summits such as Dome Charlie are situated on the Antarctic Polar Plateau - the world's largest frozen desert. At an elevation of 4000 meters (13123 ft) above sea level, it is one of the coldest places on Earth with permanent low pressure. Temperatures fall below −83 °C (−182 °F) in winter. Humidity is low and it is also very dry, with very little precipitation throughout the year.

It was in these conditions, that Merieme Chadid was entrusted with the responsibility to establish an astronomical observatory. This made her the first African and Moroccan to reach the South Pole and to plant the first African and Arab flag in the heart of Antarctica ever. This extreme weather project also made her the world's first astronomer to be committed to such work. “The South Pole is the coldest, most inhospitable place on Earth with extreme conditions. You can’t imagine how it is trying to complete a task in those harsh conditions. The responsibility and psychological pressure were enormous but the scientific curiosity, discovery and high-risk experience got me through. It was like being on a space mission” says Merieme. The work to set the observatory up is to her, her most treasured accomplishment. You need a different endurance to get through such circumstances and come through victorious - endurance of the body, mind and spirit. It is this, her perseverance and belief in herself that she considers as her armor through everything.

This was not the only time Merieme braved unbearable and harsh conditions. She has also worked on the installation of The Very Large Telescope, the largest telescope in the world at the time in driest desert in the world- The Atacama desert in Chile. Some areas of Atacama have never received a single drop of rain since the meteorological data have been recorded. “My thirst for high-risk and extreme ventures, to push through challenges and to explore the most extreme conditions in the world for scientific discoveries is what inspires me to take these challenges on” she shares. Armed with a childhood dream of being an Astronomer since the age of 12, she went on to graduated from the University of Hassan II Casablanca with a master's degree in Physics and Mathematics. She further graduated from the University of Nice Sophia-Antipolis with a Masters of Advanced Studies in Imagery and Universe Sciences, and later earned her PhD in Astronomy and Space from the Paul Sabatier University. She also obtained the highest university qualification degree Habilitation HDR, a second PhD, at the University of Côte d’Azur. Born to a blacksmith father and a house wife mother, her world opened up to space the day her brother gifted her a book on astronomy on the Kepler’s laws at age 12. Challenges that came to her were perpetual and extreme “Maybe they prepared me to face the extreme conditions of the work that I do. I learned early on how to use the harsh obstacles towards improving my strategy and methods for a higher and larger scientific accomplishment while growing my leadership capacities” she shares.

What strikes me as the biggest strength of Merieme is the conscious choice and understanding she possessed since childhood that her choice of career will bring with it many challenges. She knew this and the knowing gave her the strength to overcome each difficulty. Her first challenge was to leave behind her family and country to go to France to pursue her PhD in Astronomy and Space. She had to leave behind everything known - her loved ones, her culture, her comfort zones and literally start as a beginner in astronomy despite having a strong background in mathematics and physics.

I asked Merieme what role gender played in the world of Astronomy and Science and she shared some truthful and deep insights: “My best life expedition is Science itself. Science is intimately connected to human beings survival and it belongs to everyone regardless of race, social class, religion and sex. Today, we cannot talk about scientific progress without talking about major contributions by women. Unfortunately, feminine science still goes into the shadows. ” To work and lead scientific projects in the highly competitive male dominated field is one of the biggest challenges she has faced in her career.

Known as the “Astronomer of Extreme”, Merieme fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an Astronomer. Her exemplary work brought her many accolades including Royal Order of Al-Alaoui, which is a military decoration of Morocco which is bestowed by the King of Morocco upon those civilians who have contributed meritorious service to the Moroccan state. Merieme was recognised by His Majesty the King of Morocco as ‘Officer Grade’ among many other awards that came her way.

Today, Merieme continues her extraordinary journey through research which is focused on stellar and universe evolution. She has recently detected the gravity waves in the candles of the Universe. This first discovery is a major key for an advance in the theory of stellar evolution, and a better understanding of the Universe. Her scientific discoveries are published in numerous international reviews and books and she gives lectures and supervises many PhD students. The American Forbes Magazine listed her as one of the thirty most interesting and fascinating workers in the world.

From that little girl who was spell bound by the night skies of Casablanca to working at the south pole where the night was endless for 6 months, Merieme has indeed come far. May her tryst with the skies remain as endless as her endurance is towards bettering humanity through astronomy and science.