Each year, the Académie des Sciences honors outstanding researchers across all disciplines—from fundamental sciences to the most innovative applications—through nearly 50 awards. On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Pierre-Olivier Lagage, an astrophysicist at the CEA, was among the recipients, receiving the CNES Prize for Astrophysics and Space Sciences.
A Career Marked by the Exploration of New Worlds
Specialist in infrared instrumentation and observations of proto- and post-planetary disks as well as exoplanets, Pierre-Olivier Lagage has been involved in the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) project since 1998. He was one of the few astrophysicists advocating for an instrument covering the thermal infrared range. Once this idea was adopted, he became co-scientific lead (Co-PI) of the MIRI (Mid-InfraRed Instrument) and led France’s participation in this major international project.
Major Contributions to the Study of Exoplanets
As the coordinator of exoplanet observations conducted under the MIRI Guaranteed Time Observations, Pierre-Olivier Lagage has developed the most innovative methods for analyzing exoplanetary atmospheres observed by the JWST. He initiated and coordinated the European H2020 ExoplANETS A program, enabling the European scientific community to reach a world-leading level in JWST data reduction and interpretation.
Focusing on Future Missions
Always looking ahead, Pierre-Olivier Lagage is already preparing for the post-JWST era. He serves as the French co-PI for the ESA’s ARIEL mission, dedicated to studying exoplanetary atmospheres, and is a member of the mission’s international science team. He is also involved in the future Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), planned for the 2040s.
A Career Dedicated to French Astrophysics
Pierre-Olivier Lagage has also played a pivotal role in the CEA’s Department of Astrophysics, which he has led four times:
- 2002–2005 : Head of the Astrophysics Service (SAp)
- 2006–2009 : Head of the SAp and Director of the UMR AIM Astrophysics, Multi-scale Interpretation
- 2010–2013 : Head of the SAp and Director of the UMR AIM (Astrophysics, Instrumentation, Modeling)
- 2021–2025 : Head of the Department of Astrophysics (DAp) and Director of the UMR AIM
Since early 2025, he has focused primarily on JWST data analysis and the preparation of future exoplanet observations, reaffirming his leading role in the exploration of distant worlds.