Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli

Moroccan nuclear physicist who contributed to the discovery of the Higgs boson

Rajaâ Cherkaoui El Moursli (born 1954) stands as North Africa's foremost nuclear physicist and a key contributor to the ATLAS experiment at CERN that confirmed the Higgs boson's existence. Hailing from Casablanca, this trailblazing scientist shattered stereotypes in a field dominated by Western males and Islamic cultural expectations.

Her journey began at Mohammed V University before earning a PhD in France through the "co-tutelle" system. Dr. Cherkaoui later established Morocco's first high-energy physics laboratory, connecting African researchers to global projects. She implemented UNESCO-backed programs training over 300 African physicists since 2005.

Beyond scientific achievements, Dr. Cherkaoui revolutionized gender dynamics in STEM across Arab nations. As Vice-President of Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology, she instituted mandatory female representation in research teams. Her 2018 Nature article exposed systemic barriers facing Arab women scientists, prompting policy reforms in 7 countries.