# Catherine Bréchignac

_French physicist_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/catherine-brechignac
Last updated: 2026-11-01

> Catherine Bréchignac is a French physicist. She is a commander of the Légion d'honneur, "secrétaire perpétuel honoraire" of the Académie des sciences and former president of the CNRS. The Times says she has "a formidable reputation for determination, decisiveness and an aptitude for analysing and clarifying complex matters." As a president of the CNRS, she was responsible for 25,000 employees, 12,000 of whom are researchers, and a budget of 2.42 billion Euros.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 12 June 1946 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Paris ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054#P19))
- **Citizenship:** France ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054#P27))
- **Occupation:** physicist; researcher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054#P106))
- **Education:** École normale supérieure de Fontenay-aux-Roses; University of Paris-Sud; University of Paris ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054#P69))
- **Spouse:** Philippe Bréchignac ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054#P26))
- **Positions held:** Perpetual Secretary (2011–2018); president (11 January 2006 – 20 January 2010); director general of the National Center for Scientific Research (1997–2000) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054#P39))
- **Awards:** Commander of the National Order of Merit; Holweck Prize; CNRS silver medal; Weizmann Women & Science Award; Prix Roberval; Honorary doctor of the Free University of Berlin; Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour; honorary doctor of the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne; Associated Member of the Hassan II Academy of Sciences and Technologies; Officer of Arts and Letters ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054#P166))
- **LinkedIn:** catherine-bréchignac-a4807a163 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054#P6634))

## Questions

**When was Catherine Bréchignac born?**  
Catherine Bréchignac was born on 12 June 1946 in Paris.

**What positions has Catherine Bréchignac held?**  
Positions held by Catherine Bréchignac include: Perpetual Secretary (2011–2018); president (2006–2010); director general of the National Center for Scientific Research (1997–2000).

**Where did Catherine Bréchignac study?**  
Catherine Bréchignac was educated at École normale supérieure de Fontenay-aux-Roses, University of Paris-Sud, University of Paris.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Catherine Bréchignac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Br%C3%A9chignac) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q274054](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q274054) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Catherine Brechignac p1140529.jpg by David Monniaux (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catherine_Brechignac_p1140529.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Catherine Bréchignac, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Catherine Brechignac p1140529.jpg — David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Catherine Bréchignac". DigiNepal. Last updated 1 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/catherine-brechignac. Retrieved 5 November 2026.