Athena Coustenis is the Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the Paris Observatory, specializing in astrophysics and planetary science. She contributes to the development of space missions and analyzes data obtained for the investigation of the atmospheres and surfaces of planets, moons, and exoplanets.

She has extensively studied Saturn’s large moon, Titan, and Jupiter’s moons. Currently, she is the Chair of the Advisory Committee of the European Space Agency (ESA-HESAC) for Science and Exploration of Human Spaceflight, the COSPAR group for Planetary Protection, and the scientific evaluation committee of the French National Centre for Space Studies (CNES-CERES). She is a member of several other international advisory bodies (with NASA, ESA, NASEM, etc.).

She has published approximately 260 scientific papers, several books or chapters, and has presented over 700 presentations. She has been honored with numerous international awards and with the title of Knight of the Legion of Honour in France.