Sylvie Retailleau: What Has Happened to Women in Science Since Marie Curie?
Sylvie Retailleau, President of Universcience, Professor of Physics at Paris-Saclay University, shared a post by Paris-Saclay University Foundation on LinkedIn:
“What has happened to women in science since Marie Curie?
It is around this essential question that Anne L’Huillier, Nobel Prize in Physics 2023, reacted to testimonies from Paris-Saclay University students, speaking.
- Self-censorship.
- Stereotypes.
- Lack of support.
- Sexist remarks.
- Of loneliness in certain sectors.
Alongside Beatrice Kosowski, Sylvie Jéhanno, Clotilde Coron, Laure Darcos and Camille GALAP, we were able to share clear observations: real progress has been made since Marie Curie. Women are now present in all scientific fields. But these advances remain incomplete. Inequalities persist, biases remain, and trajectories are still too often slowed down.
This subject goes beyond the sole question of equality. It affects the very quality of science. A more diverse science is a richer, more robust science, more capable of responding to the major contemporary challenges.
We know it: the young girls are there. Curious, committed, ready to take hold of science. But too often, over the course of the course, stereotypes, representations and implicit guidance mechanisms restrict the field of possibilities.
This is why the action must be collective and continuous:
- act from an early age,
- make model roles visible,
- Promote the plurality of career paths,
- transform work environments.
Universcience, within the City of Science and Industry and the Discovery Palace, plays a decisive role in this regard in introducing young girls to scientific, technological and industrial fields, and opening up the field of possibilities for them.
Thank you to all those who contributed to this essential reflection, and to the Paris-Saclay University Foundation for its actions and mobilization.
Let’s continue to make sure that the history of women in science is no longer an exception… but an obvious one.”
Quoting Paris-Saclay University Foundation post:
“Taking giant steps
The Paris-Saclay University Foundation organized a meeting today at the Hotel of Industry on the subject of women in science.
Many guests from the economic, academic and political worlds were present to attend a conference in the presence of Anne L’Huillier, 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics, Sylvie Retailleau former Minister of Higher Education and Research and President of Universcience, Beatrice Kosowski, President of IBM France, Sylvie Jéhanno, Chairman and CEO of Dalkia, Clotilde Coron, Vice-President of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion of Université Paris-Saclay, Laure Darcos, Senator for Essonne and Camille GALAP, President of the Université Paris-Saclay.
The Foundation is strengthened by the commitment of its patrons and partners, who work alongside it to promote women’s success pathways, to introduce many young girls to science, technology and industry fields and to support them throughout their career in business or research.
A big thank you to the stakeholders and our community for their presence.”
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