How Paris Pişmiş Became Mexico's First Lady of the Cosmos
When Paris Pişmiş arrived in Mexico in 1942, she didn't just unpack her bags; she unpacked a new era for Mexican astronomy. Shattering the glass ceiling, she became the nation's first professional astronomer.
When we look up at the night sky, the stars may seem like permanent fixtures, but it takes pioneers to illuminate how they change, move, and tell us more about our universe. The field of astronomy has its set of luminaries who have looked through telescopes to expand our understanding of cosmic phenomena. Among them are women who have broken through the glass ceiling of a historically male-dominated field to push the boundaries of knowledge. While the names of Annie Jump Cannon or Vera Rubin might resonate with some, far fewer have heard of Paris Pişmiş, the groundbreaking Mexican astronomer with an incredible life journey that started in Istanbul, Turkey.
Paris Pişmiş was born in 1911 into an upper-class Armenian family in Istanbul. This was a time and place where societal norms heavily constrained women's educational and professional opportunities. Despite the prevailing prejudices and restrictions, Pişmiş was unstoppable. She excelled in her studies and completed a degree in mathematics and classical astronomy at Istanbul University. Recognizing her extraordinary talent, her advisor Erwin Freundlich became a crucial supporter, encouraging her to further her studies abroad.
