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Women at PSL: International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022

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Profiles, interviews, podcasts, seminars… to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, on February 11, meet female PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, engineers, lecturers, researchers and artists at PSL who are making science attractive.

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Fewer than 35% of scientists worldwide are women and only about 30% of female students in higher education choose fields related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These percentages are changing, but women still struggle to contribute equitably to solving global crises – whether social, environmental or economic.

At ̳, in our research chairs, non-profit organizations, individual or group projects, special events, there are many initiatives helping to promote the work of women in science at PSL. The screening and debate on the documentary and , research projects run by the , and encouragement from our schools, repeated successfully every year, to invite young female PhD students and postdoctoral fellows to participate in the L’Oréal-UNESCO Young Talents award… these are just a few examples. Most recently, researchers from the Observatoire de Paris – PSL and the École Pratique des Hautes Etudes – PSL set up a mentoring program called Women in Science PSL. Seventeen female PhD students will be supported by eight mentors from all walks of life. Over the year, in addition to one-to-one discussions with their mentor, mentees will meet once a month to participate in workshops, courses, discussion circles and conferences, to receive support in building their career project.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 is an ideal opportunity to highlight this commitment. Many initiatives, portraits and presentations of the work of women researchers are on show, with a selection given here.

Webinars, round tables, exhibitions
  • Webinar on scientific culture organized by the Observatoire de Paris - PSL: The presence of women in astronomy and astrophysics, chaired by Mathilde Mâlin, doctoral student at the Laboratory for Space Science and Astrophysical Instrumentation (LESIA, Observatoire de Paris - PSL) -
  • 100% digital Round Table organized by the European University EELISA: Women who make science happen, chaired by Sofia D'Aguiar (Executive Director of EELISA) and Maria Rentetzi (Head of the Chair of Science, Technology and Gender Studies) and with contributions from several panelists, including Solène Demay, former student of Mines Paris - PSL and founder of the WoMinesPSL organization
  • The exhibition "" at Mines Paris – PSL, portraying 48 female scientists involved in research.
Portraits, interviews and meetings with women scientists, engineers and future researchers
  • 4 questions to , researcher in paleontology at EPHE - PSL, and (CGEL) at EPHE - PSL
  • Overview of daily life and current research topics in the Collège de France laboratories through with PhD students, researchers and research engineers
  • ... all essential female players in daily scientific activity at ESPGG
  • , PhD students and postdoctoral fellows in the ENSCP - PSL laboratories
  • Portrait of a , PhD student in the PSL - SACRe program at CNSAD - PSL
  • whose work has made the headlines
  • on the role and place of women in science today
Prizes, honors and biographies of some women researchers who marked 2021

They are some of the most talented scientists of their generation

  • Spotlight on the awarded to honor the work of women researchers at ENS - PSL in 2021
  • Presentation of the career paths and key milestones of
  • Profile of , researcher at the PMMH laboratory (ESPCI Paris - PSL) CNRS silver medal in 2021
  • Seven young PhD students and postdoctoral fellows from , , the , the , the and the received one of the prestigious L'Oréal-UNESCO "Young Talents France" awards in 2021
A glimpse of their work (podcasts, articles, etc.)

L'Oréal - UNESCO Young Talents France award for Women and Science

Created in 2007, the aim of this program is to identify and reward talented young women researchers. In all, 335 such women have received an endowment from the L’Oréal-UNESCO for the Women in Science program. Every year, many PhD students and postdoctoral fellows from PSL laboratories make successful applications. As well as receiving a research grant of €15,000 for PhD students and €20,000 for postdoctoral fellows, each successful candidate takes part in a training program in line with their scientific field to give them the means to break the glass ceiling.

Some profiles and interviews for you to read or reread:

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