Frédérique Baron named finalist for the 2025 Prix du Recteur

We are proud to announce that our colleague Frédérique Baron has been selected as one of four finalists for the 2025 Prix du recteur at the Université de Montréal, in the Leadership category.

Frédérique at the Prix du Recteur ceremony. Credit: Liv Mann-Tremblay.

Since September 2024, Frédérique has served as Interim Deputy Director of both the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets (IREx) and the Observatoire du Mont-Mégantic (OMM). She also holds the roles of Coordinator for the Centre for Research in Astrophysics of Quebec – AstroQuebec and Project Manager at the OMM. In addition, she teaches the very popular astronomy course Comprendre l’Univers, open to the UdeM community.

Alongside these many responsibilities, Frédérique plays a key role in science communication at IREx, where she has participated in numerous initiatives over the years to make science more accessible and inclusive. In addition to delivering countless public talks, she was one of the creative minds behind La petite école de l’espace, a program for young children, and she also hosted the recent video podcast series Discussions avec les astronomes de l’UdeM, aimed at young adults and the general public.

“Behind this impressive list of roles is an authentic and deeply compassionate leader,” says Marie-Eve Naud, IREx’s Education and Outreach Coordinator. “Frédérique has held many positions over the years, and she has consistently embraced each new challenge with an extraordinarily positive attitude.”

Philippe Vallée, a colleague at the OMM, won in the Innovation category. His nomination was submitted by a team of colleagues, including Frédérique Baron. Credit: Liv Mann-Tremblay.

The Prix du recteur ceremony, held on May 30, celebrated the outstanding contributions of staff across the university. While Frédérique did not win in her category, her altruistic leadership was evident in a remarkable way: she played an instrumental role in nominating her colleague at the OMM, Philippe Vallée, who went on to win the award for Innovation — a true testament to her commitment to collective success and to recognizing the contributions of those around her.

All of us at IREx extend our heartfelt congratulations to Frédérique for this well-deserved recognition!