Amina Helmi

Amina Helmi is Professor of Dynamics and Formation of the Milky Way at the University of Groningen (NL). She is one of the founders of “Galactic Archaeology”, a field that uses stars’ motions and chemical composition to reconstruct a galaxy’s history. She is well-known for the discovery of debris from galaxies that have merged with the Milky Way, most recently using ESA’s Gaia mission, as well as for modelling efforts to understand the nature of dark matter. Helmi is also known for her advisory roles in international astronomical organizations and in the development of various instruments. She has received numerous prizes including the Spinoza Prize in 2019, the highest Dutch academic award.