WOMEN AND SCIENCE
Make the most of the final events and activities organized for "Women and Science" month – giving a voice to the Institut Pasteur's female scientists
Since February 9, the campus has been hosting a variety of events and activities for "Women and Science" month. This special themed month will draw to a close at the end of March. There is still time to check out the "Female Scientists" exhibition – or see it again one last time before it closes today –, and to note down the remaining events on the theme of gender and health in your diary. You can also see the latest profiles of female Institut Pasteur scientists who received awards and honors for their research in 2025, reflecting the contribution women are continuing to make to science.
Activities on campus
❖ Closure of the "Female Scientists" exhibition on Friday March 20
The CeRIS and the Pasteur Museum are pleased to invite you to the Pasteurian Women exhibition, which opened on February 9 and features a selection of archive photographs of women who played a role in the history of the Institut Pasteur. There are also two glass display cases dedicated to the life of Marie Pasteur, a key figure in the founding of the Institut Pasteur who was instrumental in sharing and promoting Louis Pasteur's scientific research.
A final session of readings on the topic of women in science was held on Monday March 16, during which a selection of letters, articles, notes and biographies of Institut Pasteur scientists past and present was read out. The atrium reverberated with authentic accounts read out by different staff members, shining a light on the careers and situations of women in science and providing food for thought.
The exhibition will close today, Friday March 20. Make sure you go along if you haven't yet seen it, or take the opportunity for a final visit. You can also leave a message in the visitor book.
❖ Upcoming DEI seminar on March 27 on "Income, Wealth and Entrepreneurship Inequalities by Sexual Orientation & Gender"
The Institut Pasteur's Department for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is pleased to invite you to its upcoming seminar (in English) led by Erwan Dujeancourt, a researcher in the Swedish Institute for Social Research at Stockholm University, which will take place on Friday March 27, 2026 at 3pm in the auditorium of the François Jacob building.
A recording will be available after the event.
The prevalence of LGBTQ+ individuals (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other identities) is steadily rising worldwide. Global surveys from 2025 indicate that approximately 9% of adults identify as LGBTQ+, with this proportion increasing to 23% among the youngest generation (Jones, 2025). This demographic shift underscores the growing importance of economic research on LGBTQ+ populations. Using Swedish administrative data, our analysis reveals a labor income premium for sexual minority women and a corresponding labor income penalty for sexual minority men, after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics. In terms of wealth, results indicate a wealth premium for sexual minority men and a wealth penalty for sexual minority women.
Furthermore, LGB men and women are less likely to be homeowners but more likely to hold financial wealth and student debt. Regarding entrepreneurship, sexual minority women are more likely to engage in entrepreneurial activities, whereas sexual minority men are less likely to do so. Notably, firms founded by sexual minority women exhibit lower survival rates.
These findings highlight significant heterogeneity in economic outcomes across sexual minority groups, emphasizing the need for further research.
Profiles of Pasteurian women
What does it mean to be a woman in science today? Some of the Institut Pasteur's female scientists share their thoughts
For this latest issue of the newsletter, we are pleased to bring you three more testimonials from female Institut Pasteur scientists whose research was recognized with an award in 2025.
"Being a woman in science is a source of both joy and responsibility. It is a joy to do research, work as part of a team and learn something new every week. And it is a responsibility to honor the generations of women who fought to make it easier for us to access science – and also to train up the future generations who will take over from us!"
Sarah Merkling, Head of the Insect Infection and Immunity G5
"Being a woman in science today means working on projects that are beneficial to society, while also contributing a realistic view of the world and outstanding scientific expertise."
Yolène Duchaudé, previously a PhD student in chemistry in the Vector-borne Diseases laboratory at the Institut Pasteur de la Guadeloupe
"For me, being a woman in science means following your curiosity and passion, just like any other scientist, and showing that science is just as accessible to women as it is to men. The more women there are in research, the more viewpoints and ideas there will be, and that is how science progresses."
Marion Guérin, a scientist in the Dynamics of Immune Responses Unit
See the previous testimonials (in French)