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Three centuries of women astronomers

9 February 2024

To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2024, Observatoire de Paris - PSL is highlighting eight little-known women from the history of science who have worked "for" or "thanks to" our institution.

(Re)discover a series of portraits of remarkable women scientists :
Série de portraits publiés à l’occasion de la Journée internationale des femmes et des filles de science en 2023.
© Observatoire de Paris - PSL

These women often remained in the shadows of the private sphere, rarely co-signing publications of their own results, or confined to the role of scientific assistant or secretary, before finally achieving the recognized status of astronomer at the beginning of the XXe century.

The "Women Astronomers at the Observatory" project

At the initiative of the "Equality between women and men" working group, and with the support of the Presidency of the Observatoire de Paris - PSL, a committee of female and male researchers, students and doctoral students has been set up to highlight the work of women astronomers who, as much as their male colleagues, have contributed to the scientific history of the establishment.

Established in 2023, the project plans to continue through :

  • the creation of a documentary collection ;
  • an installation in the form of a portrait gallery, exhibited in the school’s buildings;
  • Wikipedia content describing the work of the many women astronomers who have worked with the institution. You can also take part in the WIKITHON de l’ENS - PSL, with Wikipedia specialists waiting for you every day between noon and midday in the friendly Wikicafé area located in the lobby of 24 rue Lhomond in Paris, to help you edit, create, enrich, improve, translate and illustrate the pages of women in science on the encyclopedia.

Committee members : Romane Cologni, Lucie Cros, Léa Griton, Mathilde Malin, Rhita-Maria Ouazzani et Gilles Theureau.

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