Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an American theoretical physicist and cosmologist. She was born in 1982 in El Sereno, California. She studies dark matter and the structure of the universe. She is also a strong advocate for diversity and equality in science.

Early Life

Prescod-Weinstein grew up in East Los Angeles. She fell in love with physics after watching a TV show about the universe. She studied physics and astronomy at Harvard University. She became one of the first Black women to earn a PhD in cosmology from an American university.

Science and Advocacy

Prescod-Weinstein studies what dark matter is made of and how it shapes the universe. She is a professor at the University of New Hampshire. She also writes about how to make science more inclusive for women and people of color. Her book The Disordered Cosmos explores both physics and social justice.

Fun Facts

• Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is one of fewer than 100 Black American women to earn a PhD in physics.
• She studies dark matter, which makes up about 27 percent of the universe.
• Her book The Disordered Cosmos was a bestseller.

Did You Know?

Dark matter is invisible and cannot be seen with telescopes. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein studies it by looking at how it affects the gravity of galaxies.