Shining light on women professors of Basic Sciences at EPFL

This was published on February 23, 2026

Three new collections of portraits of women professors in Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics are now on display across EPFL’s School of Basic Sciences, ten years after the initial installation in Materials Science. Come and discover this new opportunity to showcase role models and encourage young women to choose a career in science.

The project is a follow-up on a similar installation in the Institute of Materials, that was initiated in 2016 by NCCR MARVEL Director Nicola Marzari and IMX Deputy Director Dr Homeira Sunderland. That installation also gave rise to the series Female Leadership in Science, part of the celebrations for EPFL 50th anniversary in 2019. 

The new collections extend the collaborative project of the NCCR MARVEL to the School of Basic Sciences and his dean, Paul Dyson; it is led once again by the photographer and illustrator Alban Kakulya, that has created all the portraits. As Kakulya explains, “The visual identity of the series is inspired by 1960s–70s screen-printed posters, revived in contemporary culture by Barack Obama’s HOPE campaign. In this project, the word ‘HOPE’ is replaced by a keyword chosen by each professor, reflecting her research or scientific field”. 

Women in Chemistry at EPFL

When the women professors in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics at EPFL were offered to have their portrait included, their feedback was enthusiastic. Physics Professor Lenka Zdeborová shared “I have seen those portraits, they are great. Actually, my daughter got some of them on a postcard at one of the EPFL outreach events, and she was asking where mine was. So I am really happy I will get mine to be able to show her.”

Women in Physics at EPFL

Marzari mentions, “We often talk about underrepresented groups; key actions are creating opportunities and showcasing role models. I’m so happy to say that the Swiss National Science Foundation, with the NCCRs, gives us exactly these means to act. At the same time, it’s important not to overburden role models with more tasks – equality is a shared responsibility we have as an entire community”.

Women in Mathematics at EPFL

All the portraits were installed in their respective institutes (mathematics, chemistry and physics) at end of January 2026, and the official inauguration will take place on 21st April 2026. 

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