From February 11, 2026, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, to March 12, 2026, Science is a Woman’s Job Day, meet women involved in research at ENS de Lyon, take part in events dedicated to women’s rights and gender equality, and learn about ENS de Lyon’s initiatives and commitments to gender equality.
Our entire society remains steeped in gender-related assumptions and stereotypes, conveyed by family, school, community groups, and the workplace. These assumptions and stereotypes diminish, influence, and tend to render women invisible and confine them to the home.
In the words of sociologist Clémence Perronnet, the problem is not so much that women censor themselves, but that they are censored. In academia, there is also a marked underrepresentation of women in highly mathematical fields. This low representation fuels a vicious circle, with women feeling that they do not belong if they pursue this type of study or career. However, the absence of women undermines the dynamism of research and our ability to innovate.
We make gender equality a political priority at our institution, because talent has no gender.
Emmanuel Trizac, president of ENS de Lyon
Women in Science Program
ENS de Lyon wants to tackle the barriers that limit women’s access to scientific careers: Cécile DeWitt-Morette scholarships in Mathematics and Computer Science, mentoring for female PhD students, a new Equality Plan, and awareness-raising measures aimed at high school girls. These initiatives address gender bias in education and research and combat the resulting underrepresentation of women. Both research and society need the science of tomorrow to be diverse and built on the genuine inclusion of women.
Read the article on Emmanuel Trizac’s speech in the Senate, during a round table discussion on gender diversity in France’s prestigious Grandes Écoles
Here’s a quick look at the 2026 edition of the Women in Science campaign: