Women are still much underrepresented in mathematics and theoretical physics, particularly at IHES, where only 10% of its visitors are female. IHES, in line with Université Paris-Saclay, firmly intends to reduce that gap and attract more women researchers.

To identify the best way to do so, the Institute wishes to take advantage of the experience, hindsight and know-how of several organizations that have been created over the years to raise awareness and promote equal opportunities for women in mathematics. For decades now, female mathematicians across the world have been joining forces to encourage more women to choose STEM and to ensure that they get fair and equal treatment when they do so.

IHES is thus organizing a panel discussion featuring a former visiting professor at IHES as well as representatives from the Association for Women in Mathematics, that is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and the European Women in Mathematics, all of whom are strong diversity and inclusion advocates.

The event will take place in a hybrid format on Monday, October 4, at 6pm Paris time, both at the Marilyn and James Simons Conference Center, IHES, and online.

Panelists will be: Eva Bayer-Fluckiger, Professor Emeritus at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Kathryn Leonard, president of the Association of Women in Mathematics, and Andrea Walther, convenor of the European Women in Mathematics.
This conference will be led by Meline Ruel, a 2nd year student at CentraleSupélec

By sharing their experiences and their expertise, they will help identify relevant initiatives to attract women to research in the mathematical sciences, and more particularly at IHES. The funds raised later on at the next Friends of IHES gala, dedicated to "Women in Fundamental Research", will then help implement some of those initiatives at the Institute.