The 2024 EPS Calendar of Inspiring Physicists has been released. Featuring EPS Members, Laureates of EPS awards and Nobel Prize Winners this initiative aims at presenting inspiring female physicists who can act as role models for the next generation of scientists. Every month, a new physicist can be discovered in the calendar with a portrait, a short description of her field of research and a sentence to inspire and encourage young people to study physics.

The project was led by Gina Gunaratnam, communication coordinator at the EPS secretariat and bought to the page by Xavier de Araujo, the EPS graphic designer. The rationale behind the project is to increase the visibility of women in physics. Although in recent years women have become more visible in fields where historically they were a minority, women are still missing in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). There is therefore a need to attract more youngsters to these fields. Not only to work as researchers but also as technical staff, lab assistants, IT specialists, to name but a few. The panel of professions related to the sciences is wide and requires all talents, girls as much as boys.

Society does not always send this message: girls need to be encouraged in their choice of studying science by everyone at every stage of their education: families, teachers, media and government all have a role to play. When girls show interest in sciences, they should not be diverted from their objectives, but helped and stimulated in every possible way to facilitate their aspirations.

Our calendar is currently being distributed to our member societies and associate members throughout Europe. We hope that with this initiative and the help of enthusiastic teachers and scientists, it will inspire young pupils in 2024 and beyond.

The January Physicist is Dr. Sara Bolognesi, staff researcher in experimental physics and laureate of the 2021 EPS Emmy Noether Distinction. Read her interview here.

Stay tuned, more to come!