Author: Pas García

The Women in Physics Group (GEMF) of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics organised a symposium earlier this year. It was held in the frame of the XXXIX Biennal of the society in Donostia, Spain in July 2024. It aims to discuss issues related to strategies to increase the presence of women in physics, to make their achievements visible and to defend the interests and equal rights and opportunities of women physicists.

Pas García (left), president of the GEMF, introduced Ursula Keller (right).
The talk was entitled ‘Dual-comb generation from a single laser cavity’ - image: GEMF

Ursula Keller proposal and plenary presentation

Proposal for the theme of Dialogue 2: ‘Women's leadership in physics’ moderated by Itziar Otegui, head of outreach at CIC nanoGUNE. In this dialogue between a more senior (Ursula Keller from ETH Zurich) and junior (Irene Abril, member of our group and PhD student at the University of Cambridge, THANK YOU, IRENE!), the central challenges to achieve equality in science were addressed. They reviewed the data, analysed institutional strategies and highlighted that the process is stagnating. We must try to move towards a new model of inclusive leadership in which the importance of male allies is fundamental.

Symposium ‘Women in Physics’

As part of the Physics Biennial, the Women in Physics Symposium was held with the participation of 8 oral presentations. The GEMF symposium aimed to discuss issues related to strategies to increase the presence of women in physics, to make their achievements visible and to defend the interests and equal rights and opportunities of women physicists. The Symposium included an invited talk by Lorena Fernández, computer engineer, director of digital identity at the University of Deusto and STEAM disseminator, as well as an expert on gender and science, especially in the field of ICTs.

PART 1: Moderated by Màriam Tórtola, secretary-treasurer of the GEMF.

• Marta Seror, of the Institute of Physics of Cantabria. ‘Traces and Trails: Women Professors of Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics in Spain’.

Marta recalled that the percentage of female professors in physics is 15%, and dedicated the presentation to the female professors of FAMN (Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics). In this study, she conducted a series of interviews with active and retired female professors from Spanish public universities, analysing the extent to which gender influences or has influenced their scientific careers and academic trajectories. In addition to the testimonies collected, another purpose of the study was to locate and highlight female professors in this discipline. The characteristics of this branch of knowledge make the physics of the very small a field in which women have played and continue to play a particularly relevant role.

• Míriam Comet-Donoso, Universitat de Barcelona, “No questions asked: gendered participation patterns in higher education in physics”

This study was also carried out by M. Romagosa-Torrallardona UB, T. Donoso-Vázquez,UB, A. T. Danielsson Stockholm University, P. Folgueiras-Bertomeu UB and S. Estradé UB. The study addressed the different dynamics in the participation of physics students in class according to their gender. Women tend to ask fewer questions than men, which reflects the social norms that prioritise obedience and non-disruptive behaviour in women. In contrast, men tend to engage in more explanatory discourse, in line with gender stereotypes that value confidence and competitiveness. The study employed a mixed design comprising quantitative observations (n=900) and, for the qualitative part, a focus group discussion that corroborated these disparities in classroom participation.

• Ana Xesús López Díaz, de la Universidad de A Coruña, “Gender approach in university teaching: activities of the Grupo de Innovación Docente Multidisciplinar para a Igualdade de Xénero (GIDMIX)”

This work also carried out by A. Ramil (UdC), M. Carreiro (UdC), C. López (UdC) and E. Aguayo (USC), highlighted the importance of teaching with a gender perspective to improve the quality and social relevance of the knowledge, technologies and innovations that are produced. It can also stimulate critical thinking and develop competencies that enable students to avoid gender blindness in their future professional practice. However, diagnoses of the degree of integration in the classroom reveal disparities between universities and, in general, partial integration. Among the causes identified are the lack of teacher training on gender issues and the lack of methodological guides on how to introduce the gender dimension, as well as practical examples of how to apply it in different subjects.

• Rocío Vilar Cortabitarte, of the Institute of Physics of Cantabria, ‘Strengthening equality and diversity at the Institute of Physics of Cantabria’.

S. Martinez, M. Ceballos, J. Piedra, J. Sáinz-Pardo, R. García, D. Herranz, L. Graafland, R. Domínguez,and K. Vaaiyapuri.
The talk presented the fantastic activities carried out by the Equality and Diversity Commission of the IFCA (CSIC-UC), which earned them the recognition of the second prize of the equality award granted by the CSIC in 2018. The work of the commission was also awarded the VI Equality Award of the University of Cantabria in 2022. The main objective of this commission is to include the gender and diversity perspective in the daily development of IFCA's scientific work.

PART 2: Moderated by Ana X. López, vice-president of the GEMF.

• Núria Garro, of Faculty of Physics of the University of Valencia, “Tornem als instituts: activities to make women in Physics studies more visible’”

The work was also carried out by M. Delgado, P. García-Martínez, S. Planelles and M. Tórtola, from the UVEG.
In this communication, the activity ‘Tornem als instituts’ was presented, carried out by students of the Faculty of Physics of the University of Valencia in the 22/23 and 23/24 academic years and supervised by the professors of the Comissió d'Igualtat. The activity consists of holding informative talks in secondary schools, with the speakers being students of the faculty and the educational centres targeted being those in which they themselves studied. In figures, ‘Tornem als instituts’ has been very well received: in the first two editions, a total of 45 students, 40 women and 5 men, signed up for the activity, and informative talks have been given in 34 schools in the three Valencian provinces. The estimated number of students receiving these talks is around 3,500.

• Màriam Tórtola, of the Faculty of Physics of the University of Valencia, ‘Meitner Project - Remembering the pioneers of Nuclear and Particle Physics’.

With the participation of C. Escobar, N. Falcó, I. Laderescu, O. Mena, A. Molina, R. Molina, M. Moreno, D. Muñoz, S. Orrigo, J. Palacios, S. Pastor, D. Rodríguez, S. Rubio, B. Rubio, J. L. Taín and M. Villaplana, from the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (CSIC / University of Valencia).
Proyecto Meitner is a scientific dissemination initiative with the aim of recovering and highlighting the contribution of the great pioneers of nuclear and particle physics through the figure of Lise Meitner. This project, which combines science with artistic disciplines, includes activities as diverse as a play, a conference on science and gender, a teaching mentoring programme, a science and art competition, videos on social networks and a lot of educational material to give visibility to women in science, bringing scientists of the past and present in Nuclear and Particle Physics to all audiences. Proyecto Meitner has received grants from organisations such as FECYT, CSIC, the University of Valencia and the Provincial Council of Valencia, and has been awarded the second STEAM Alliance prize for female talent by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training in 2023.

• Matilde Ariza Montes, from the ‘Pedro Espinosa’ Secondary School, ‘Women scientists with the gait of giants’.

In this magnificent and inspiring presentation, Mati Ariza told us about the activities that she has been carrying out in her school for some time with the aim of making female profiles in the scientific world visible so that students can discover references in fields such as physics, thus encouraging scientific vocations from an early age. In this work, hundreds of women of national and international relevance have been searched for their achievements in science and, secondly, they have been selected for their actions, which have been worthy of the prominence they enjoy in the field of science. The work has led to the creation of a database for subsequent publication as a reference book.

Participation of the European Physical Society (EPS)

We would like to thank Gina Gunaratnam, Communication Coordinator, European Physical Society, that sent us the fantastic calendars of “Inspiring Physicist 2024” that we offered to participants.

Author: Lorena Ballesteros Ferraz and Gina Gunaratnam

Lorena Ballesteros Ferraz is postdoctoral researcher at the Laboratoire de Physique Théorique et Modélisation, CNRS Unité 8089, CY Cergy Paris Université in France. She participated in the writing of the editorial of the EPS calendar of inspiring physicists in 2024, together with Sébastien Mouchet and Riccardo Muolo. They are engaged in gender equality and inclusion in physics.

How did you get to know the European Physical Society?

As a bachelor’s student at the Complutense University of Madrid, I was fortunate to have several professors who were actively involved in the management of the Spanish Physical Society. Through their connections, I gained access to the society’s publications, sparking my interest in the field. Later, when I pursued my PhD in Namur, Belgium, I was introduced to Europhysics News through the Belgian Physical Society, further broadening my engagement with the European physics community.

Could you describe your current field of research in a few words?

I am currently focused on various aspects of measurements in quantum physics, where, unlike in most everyday situations, measuring fundamentally disturbs the system's state. For instance, when we measure the temperature of an oven, the measurement does not alter the temperature. However, in quantum physics, measuring the state of an atom changes that state. My research explores different techniques for extracting information from quantum states, ranging from weak, where the disturbance is minimal, to ideal strong measurements. Additionally, I am interested in understanding the energetic balance involved in these measurement processes.

What are the challenges of your field?

Quantum physics is a fascinating and deeply intriguing field. Despite its status as one of the most reliable theories in science, it remains highly counterintuitive, leading to rich and ongoing debates about its interpretation and real-world implications. Among the most surprising aspects of quantum physics is the role of measurement, which continues to be a subject of intense discussion and diverging interpretations. On the technological front, the challenge lies in refining measurement protocols to achieve greater precision and energy efficiency. These advancements hold significant potential for future applications, including the development of more sensitive sensors and the advancement of quantum computing.

How would you encourage students to work in this field?

I find quantum physics, particularly the study of quantum measurements, to be an incredibly exciting and intriguing field. I encourage students who enjoy thinking outside the box and grappling with counterintuitive phenomena to join and contribute to the evolution of this discipline. Quantum physics also has a bright future, with numerous advanced applications on the horizon. Therefore, I also suggest students interested in driving technological innovation to explore this field and be part of its development.

Why is it important for you to encourage girls to study physics?

Early in my education, even during the final years of secondary school, I noticed that I was one of the few women pursuing a path in science and technology. This trend continued as I began my degree in Physics. I believe this imbalance exists because women are not sufficiently encouraged to pursue these fields. However, research shows that diversity is crucial for advancing scientific innovation. The involvement of women in our field is not only essential for the progress of science, but also for empowering young girls to pursue their dreams without being constrained by traditional gender roles.

More info

• EPS calendar of inspiring physicists 2024

• Opinion letter by Sébastien Mouchet, Lorena Ballesteros Ferraz and Riccardo Muolo in Europhysics News

FLTR: Elisabetta Paladino, Anna Di Ciaccio, Petra Rudolf, Pas Garcia Martinez and Sara Pirrone - image credit: S. Pirrone

Author: Sara Pirrone on behalf of the SIF-CPO

The 2024 edition of the National Congress of the Italian Physics Society (SIF), which brings together around 800 Italian physicists for a whole week, was held in Bologna from 9 to 13 September. The Congress, composed of plenary plus 7 parallel sessions dedicated to different fields of physics, represents the meeting point of the scientific community, where Italian researchers, teachers and students find their common background. During the Congress, Round Tables are also organized on specific topics, and particularly this year the SIF Equal Opportunities Committee (CPO) has planned the Round Table entitled: Actions towards Equal Opportunities in European Physical Societies, moderated by Anna Di Ciaccio, member of the SIF CPO.

The invited participants were Pas García Martínez, Chair of the "Women in Physics" group of the Royal Spanish Physical Society, Elisabetta Paladino, invited as representative of "Women for Quantum", Sara Pirrone, Chair of the CPO of the Italian Physical Society and Petra Rudolf, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee (EOC) of the European Physical Society (EPS).

Pas Garcia Martinez presented the activities of the Specialised Group “Women in Physics”, created in 2002 according to the guidelines of IUPAP (International Union of Pure and Applied Physics). She presented statistics and figures on the presence of women and men in physics in Spanish universities, as well as projects and initiatives to improve the balance. Among them: the organization of biennial conferences "Women in Physics", where only women can be speakers; the organization of webinars on different related topics; a calendar dedicated to women scientists; the application of the "Women in Physics" program, and of the Equity Plan actions against sexism and violence.

Elisabetta Paladino, presented the "Manifesto of Values" written and supported by the international group W4Q (Women for Quantum), composed of more than 200 women senior professors in the broad field of quantum physics. The W4Q Manifesto of Values aims to make the quantum scientific community aware that despite "social policies" (i.e. regional, national, and EU initiatives) in the field of gender equality, in many cases the change is only symbolic. The aim is to achieve real change, to question the way research (quantum) is currently conducted, and to open a dialogue for change.

Sara Pirrone presented figures and statistics on the gender balance in academia and research organizations in Italy and summarised the main actions carried out by the CPO-SIF from 2017 to date, dedicated to concrete support for gender equality. Among them: the organization of dedicated facilities for childcare offered during the Annual National Congress; the creation, since 2020, of the annual "Laura Bassi" award to promote the talent of women in physics; the realization of the SIF Gender Budget report, analysing data from the Annual Congress since 2010, showing the presence of women in different roles (chair, invited speaker, section president).

Petra Rudolf illustrated the actions of the EOC of EPS, as The Emmy Noether Distinction for Women in Physics; The Code of Conduct for EPS conferences; Round tables, seminars, and workshops on career and gender issues and how to face harassment. She presented also many ongoing actions, as well as: Cooperation with EPS Divisions & Groups, monitoring projects for Gender Fairness in Physics, increasing participation of women in committees, addressing the number of women nominations for EPS Prizes/Awards, and promoting young women and minorities. Besides, the Train-the-trainers workshop is in preparation for 2025.

After the talks, a debate was opened, and many interesting questions and comments came from the audience on different subjects. From the discussions, some points were highlighted, among these, for example, the need to continue to realize activities not only in the field of Equal Opportunity, but also to extend actions related to the inclusion of diversity, ethnicity, and, last but not least, the serious matter of harassment. Besides, the relevance of collaboration among different organizations was highlighted.

The Winter 2020 EPS Emmy Noether Distinction is awarded to:

• María García Parajo

ICREA Research Professor and researcher at the Institut de Ciències Fotòniques (ICFO) in Castelldefels near Barcelona in Spain « for her outstanding contributions to nano-biophysics and to numerous programs to support women in physics ».

At ICFO, María García Parajo is the leader of the Single Molecule Biophotonics group of IBEC-Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya. She received her Ph.D from Imperial College, University of London, UK, in 1993, from where she proceeded to take an Assistant professorship at the University of Twente, the Netherlands, where she worked for four years in the Applied Optics Group at MESA+ / Institute for Nanotechnology. She moved to Barcelona in 2005 and has worked there ever since.

María García Parajo has contributed decisively to several technical developments that allow the mapping and the direct visualisation of biomolecular interactions regulating life´s essential processes. The methods she has pioneered and used have provided profound insights on the spatiotemporal organisation of the plasma membrane of cells, which influence diverse processes in the immune system such as pathogenic infections (including HIV pathogenesis), autoimmunity and immune cell migration (with direct implications in proper immune regulation and cancer). One of her salient results (published in Cell in 2015) has led to the direct visualisation of chromatin inside intact cells, which allowed for the first time ever to correlate chromatin compaction to cell differentiation.

María García Parajo has contributed tirelessly to physics education via summer schools and training programmes as well as by the furthering of equal opportunities and gender equality in physics. María has contributed to and participated in a great many activities, committees, talks, seminars, round-tables panels, etc., oriented at creating opportunities for women scientists. Since September 2017, María García Parajo is part of the Gender committee at ICFO, where she has initiated a large number of actions to increase the visibility, awareness & empowerment of young talented female researchers promoting the successful construction of their academic career.

Prof. María García Parajo - image credit: ICFO

Maria Viñas’s research focuses on the physics of vision and vision psychophysics, with Adaptive Optics based visual technologies to image the eye, and study visual function and neural adaptation in polychromatic conditions under a very wide range of artificially-simulated-conditions. Her work on Adaptive Optics visual simulation in polychromatic conditions has contributed to different areas of research in Visual Optics and Biophotonics, like the study of chromatic aberrations in phakic and pseudophakic eyes and their impact on vision, the optical, visual and neural effects of astigmatism, the experimental simulation of complex multifocal solutions for Presbyopia, and the pre-operative simulation of post-operative multifocal vision with those corrections. Maria Viñas completed undergraduate studies in Optics and Optical Engineering in the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), followed by a predoctoral work at the Visual Optics & Biophotonics Lab, where she obtained her PhD in Physics in 2015. She is currently an IF-MSCA fellow with a joint position at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School (USA) and the Institute of Optics of the Spanish National Research Council (Spain). She is also founding member of the spin-off company, 2EyesVision, which develops clinical visual simulators.

Maria Viñas received several recognitions from scientific societies (OSA, ARVO). In particular, she was elected OSA Ambassador of The Optical Society (OSA) in 2019. She is past president of IOSA - Institute of Optics OSA Student Chapter - where among a wide range of activities she has authored a very successful book of optical experiments. She is currently the vice-chair of the Visual Sciences Committee of the Spanish Optical Society, and chair of the Women in Optics and Photonics committee of the Spanish Optical Society, where she fights gender stereotypes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Luc Bergé, President-Elect of the EPS and chair of the EPS Equal Opportunity Committee (LB), interviewed Maria Viñas (MV).

LB: Why did you choose to study physics?

MV: I actually studied Optics and Optical engineering at the University Complutense of Madrid. However, I became more and more interested in the Optics/Physics behind the visual process and related technologies. That is why, when I finished my Master’s degree, I joined the Visual Optics and Biophotonics Lab of the Institute of Optics of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). The group, led by Prof. Susana Marcos, had a research line focused on the use of Adaptive Optics technologies, inherited from astronomy and only very recently focused on visual Optics, in order to study the optics of the eye and how the brain sees the world through it. I was fascinated by that topic. The same technology used to image the stars could be used to image the eye! Also, I did my PhD there, developing novel Adaptive Optics systems to study visual function and to improve optical corrections for visual problems, like Myopia or Presbyopia. And I am really happy to see that some of those technologies have jumped from the lab to the clinic, via a spin-off company, 2EyesVision, which I co-founded. Now, I am really excited to keep pursuing novel breakthroughs in the new phase of my career, starting now as an IF-MSCA fellow with a joint position at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School (USA) and the Institute of Optics of the Spanish National Research Council (Spain).

LB: Any worry to match your family life and a career in physics?

MV: Funny timing for that question, since I am now a postdoctoral researcher with a 5 months old baby, and that fact has a real impact on my work/life balance. I was not worried about this before; I did not even think much about it. I could see my female colleagues struggle, but I did not relate much. Now I am facing the real truth, I can say that this situation is hard, but doable.

We all know that research provides a very competitive environment, which requires carrying a high workload and a lot of travelling, among other things. Numbers of female scientists in STEM tell us that the struggle is higher for women. This happens even before we consider having a family; it is deeply related to gender stereotypes that affect us all. Also, the number of female scientists in STEM areas is lower, because of the work/life balance, which is typically harder to maintain for women. However, I am optimistic about the future. Things are changing. Research/Academic institutions are making an effort to attract female talents to STEM and to maintain it by offering more flexibility, looking for strategies that enable more diverse research teams or fighting stereotypes. There is still much to be done, but I really think if you want to pursue a career in STEM, this issue must not discourage you. It is so much fun to work in the lab (as Prof. Donna Strickland said in her Nobel Prize presentation) than the rest can be overcome.

LB: Are you worried about finding a job in physics?

MV: I think when you are at a postdoctoral stage you certainly worry about this. There are many options to explore, and you can join truly amazing groups and develop very interesting projects. However, getting a permanent position, in such a way that you can develop your own independent projects and lead your research group is not so easy. I think this is a common worry for many researches at this time: you love your work, which is quite exciting, but your career is not as stable as you’d like. In my case I have been very lucky so far, I cannot complain.

LB:  What has been the personally most rewarding experience and also the biggest difficulty encountered so far in your career?

MV: For me the biggest difficulty was the beginning. After graduating, I started working in Industry, nothing related to research. However, I desired something else. I knew I had found my path when I started my PhD. I really like what I do. My most rewarding experiences have to do with teaching, not only my students in the lab, but also students in the University or children in outreach activities. How their curiosity awakes, how they grow scientifically, is very rewarding.

LB:  Did you encounter any difficulty in finding funding for PhD or a post-doc position related to the fact that you are a woman?

MV: I was unaware of gender bias during my pre-doctoral years; I was happy because I could focus on Science, only lab stuff mattered. However, becoming a postdoctoral researcher changed my perception of things. Scientific structures are more willing to incorporate male scientists than female ones. Scientific networking is male dominated, how positions are achieved, how connections are made…When you are the female scientist in the room is always more difficult to make your voice heard, no matter your experience, no matter your seniority, this can undermine your confidence as a scientist. But I think that things are changing; research groups are more and more diverse, which helps fighting gender discrimination.

LB:  Any suggestion to guarantee a balanced gender representation in physics?

MV: For me the important thing here is to fight against gender stereotypes, which are at the very centre of the problem. This is not only a question of getting a balanced gender representation in physics, it is also a problem that affects society as a whole, and which we should be fighting together. Reducing unconscious bias is the real deal.

LB:   Any particular advice for a young aspiring researcher?

MV: Enjoy what you do. A research career is tough, but it is also worthwhile.

LB:  Do you have any female ‘physicist cult figure’ or ‘role model’?

MV: Yes, I have been very lucky in that regard. I had a great professor during my Master, Prof. Maria Luisa Calvo from the School of Physics of the Complutense University of Madrid, who was truly inspiring. She went on being a great mentor along the years. Of course, my PhD supervisor, Prof. Susana Marcos from the Institute of Optics of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), who taught me almost everything I know on visual optics and about being a scientist, always supported me to develop novel breakthrough projects.