Women in Science: a historical perspective
CFM Seminars
- Speaker
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Petra Rudolf
Professor of Experimental Solid State Physics at the University of Groningen - When
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2026/02/10
09:30 - Place
- CFM Auditorium
- Add to calendar
-
iCal
In this talk I shall present some important contributions of women scientists of the past, from medieval times until the beginning of the 20th century. I shall discuss the work of independent researchers (Hildegard von Bingen, Trotula, Sybilla Merian, Laura Bassi, Caroline Herschel), of assistants of better known husbands or brothers (Sophie Brahe, Marie Anne Paulze Lavoisier) as well as that of translators such as Emilie de Breteuil Marquise de Châtelet or Maria Angela Ardinghelli. Then I shall discuss why there are still so few female researchers today. In particular, based on studies conducted in Europe, U.S.A. and Japan, I shall comment on whether men and women work differently in science, on how they view themselves and how others view them, as well as on how family and work influence each other for scientists.
About the speaker
Petra Rudolf is a Professor of Experimental Solid State Physics at the University of Groningen, studied at La Sapienza University in Rome, and held research positions in Trieste (Lab. Naz. TASC), Bell Labs, and the University of Namur, where she earned her PhD. Her research focuses on molecular motors, 2D materials, and hybrid systems. She has supervised 45 PhD candidates. A former President of the European Physical Society, she has received numerous honours, including the Descartes Prize and appointment as Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau.