On January 26, 2026, during a press conference, the association “Femmes & Sciences” presented Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, with a list of 72 female scientists whose names will soon be inscribed on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. In an effort to promote gender balance, the cohort of women scientists will join the 72 male scientists already inscribed in the 19th century.
The names were selected by a multidisciplinary committee that includes Françoise Combes, astrophysicist, professor at the Collège de France, and president of the Academy of Sciences.
Mathematicians, engineers, climatologists, computer scientists, physicists, biologists... Through their work and discoveries, these remarkable women scientists have shaped our understanding of the world and pioneered many fields.
Among them are three major female astronomers who have long been overlooked.
All of them had connections, direct or indirect, with the Paris Observatory :
- Louise du Pierry or Dupiery (1746–1830), astronomer, calculator, and first female professor of astronomy at the Sorbonne ;
- Dorothéa Klumpke (1861–1942), pioneer of astrometry and first female doctor of science at the Sorbonne ;
- Edmée Chandon (1885–1944), first professional French astronomer at the Paris Observatory ;
While the Eiffel Tower has paid tribute to scientific genius since its inception, this inscription makes up for a historical omission and reminds us how much women have contributed to our understanding of the world and the universe.
It sends a strong message about the history of science—and to future generations of astronomers.
For more information
|
