International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2025
“Women in science attract more women in science”
February 11 marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology & Epigenetics in Freiburg (MPI-IE) aims to provide a platform for female scientists from its own laboratories to share their experiences and serve as role models, inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in science. To this end, we are publishing interviews with successful women from our research labs.
Lise Meitner, Jocelyn Bell, and Esther Lederberg – these female scientists have one thing in common: they did not receive the recognition they deserved. The so-called »Matilda Effect« describes the phenomenon where female scientists do not receive awards for their groundbreaking research and, as a result, often remain less well-known than their male colleagues. While they were often only recognized within their specialist circles at the time, the public was unaware of their contributions. However, these women serve as role models today.
Despite many efforts, gender inequalities still persist in science worldwide. In the German academic system, for example, women remain underrepresented at higher career levels and in certain disciplines. The Max Planck Society is no exception. While the gender ratio is still balanced at the doctoral level, the proportion of women in top scientific positions within the MPG is significantly lower. In 2023, only 24.6 percent of directors were women. This phenomenon is known as the »leaky pipeline«, meaning that the proportion of women decreases with each qualification level.
“…having children during my postdoc was a terrible idea.”
The challenges women face in pursuing a career in science are illustrated by the example of Valérie Hilgers. The Max Planck research group leader at the MPI-IE shared her experiences as a postdoc in the United States and how difficult it was to balance family life with a scientific career. Through careful planning, a bit of luck, and support, she managed to juggle research and pregnancy, but it was far from easy. In the interview, she says:
“I hadn’t realized how difficult it would be to continue experimental work while pregnant or nursing. If I had done my postdoc in Germany, that would have been it. In the US, whether you choose to continue working with hazardous chemicals, under safe conditions of course, is up to you. That flexibility turned out to be crucial for me. On the other side, daycare costs in the US are horrific especially in high-cost areas like Boston or the San Francisco Bay Area. But in my case, I was fortunate to have a European fellowship that provided fully paid maternity leave for three months. That was huge.”
Overcoming biases
- Childcare support on a structural and financial level
- leadership programs to increase females within the MPG
- Initiatives to introduce young girls to science at an early stage
These are some of the steps being taken to counteract systemic issues. However, biases against women in science still persist in people's minds. As Asifa Akhtar, the first female vice president of the Biology and Medicine Section of the Max Planck Society and director at the MPI-IE, puts it an chat with FEBS:
“This leaky pipeline is just not simply solved by infrastructure because to solve it we must get rid of our inherent biases. By setting good examples, we can enable people to see that both roles [as a women and as a female scientist] are possible and should be nurtured.”
The MPI-IE stands for a diverse research environment where everyone is treated equally and has the same opportunities. The Institute seeks to reinforce this principle and encourage role models to share their experiences and expertise. In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we aim to showcase our female staff members. Our belief is strong in the power of role models; we understand that showcasing successful women in science encourages more women to pursue scientific careers. With this »Women in Science« interview series, we hope to inspire young people to pursue careers in science – regardless of whether they identify as female, male, or non-binary. What truly matters is a passion for science.
Interviews
KS/MR
