Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is a brilliant American-Barbadian Jewish theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and feminist theorist. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of New Hampshire.
As the first Black woman to hold a tenure-track position in theoretical cosmology, her research focuses on dark matter (specifically axions) and early universe dynamics. Her award-winning book, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred, received widespread acclaim and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Beyond her scientific breakthroughs, she actively challenges racism and sexism within the scientific community, advocating that scientific inquiry must not be decoupled from social justice.
Prescod-Weinstein’s stance is defined by anti-colonialism and Black-Palestinian solidarity. She maintains that her identity as a scientist requires an uncompromising commitment to truth, including structural injustices in geopolitics. She has frequently supported Palestinian self-determination and signed numerous academic calls for a ceasefire. She has insightfully noted: “As a Black Jew, I understand what it means for one’s identity to be used to legitimize violence. Palestinian liberation is not an isolated issue; it is part of the global struggle to abolish colonial structures. We must seek freedom not only in the cosmos but for every breath taken on Earth.” She remains one of the most powerful voices in academia advocating for “decolonizing science” and supporting Palestinian rights.