On the occasion of International Women’s Day this past March 8, the École Normale Supérieure announced two initiatives aimed at strengthening the representation and recognition of women scientists. This announcement is part of ENS’s “Women and Girls in Science” program, within which the Foundation’s “Women in Science” scholarship serves as a key pillar.
The bust of Yvonne Choquet-Bruhat, mathematician and physicist
Yvonne Choquet-Bruhat @George Bergman
A competition will soon be announced for the creation of a bust in honor of Yvonne Choquet-Bruhat, to be placed in the Salle des Actes. This bust will join those already present of Fustel de Coulanges and Nobel laureate Alfred Kastler. It will pay tribute to the French mathematician and physicist, a student at the École normale supérieure de jeunes filles in Sèvres from 1943 to 1946. After defending her doctoral thesis in 1951, she conducted research at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and later taught at the universities of Marseille, Reims, and UPMC in Paris. Following her passing on February 11, 2025, the School wishes to preserve her legacy for current and future students.
The Christiane Klapisch-Zuber Room: a tribute to the historian
Christiane Klapisch-Zuber @Galgen
Meanwhile, the History Room at 45 rue d’Ulm will now bear the name of Christiane Klapisch-Zuber, in honor of the historian. She entered the École normale supérieure de jeunes filles in Sèvres in 1955 and obtained her agrégation in history in 1959. Affiliated with the EPHE and later the EHESS, her research focused on the Middle Ages and the Italian Renaissance, establishing her as a pioneer in the field of gender history.
Today: Welcoming and supporting young women researchers at the École normale supérieure
Alongside these commemorative gestures, the École normale supérieure continues its commitment to gender parity in science education and research through its “Women and Science” scholarship program. Supported by the Foundation, this program promotes the scientific careers of young women, guiding them through to the doctoral level. Eva, a student in the physics department, reflects on the benefits of the scholarship program:
The Women and Science scholarship is made possible thanks to the support—large or small—of the ENS Foundation’s patrons. You too can help support female students in the mathematics, physics, and computer science departments. The Foundation team is available to assist with any inquiries.