In this second part of our #EELISAWomen Portrait Series, we travel from France to Italy, to Hungary and back to France. Four creative women from ChimieParisTech-PSL, Scuola Normale Superiore, Budapesti Műszaki és Gazdaságtudományi Egyetem (BME) and École des Ponts ParisTech share their backgrounds and ideas about EELISA.
Ilaria Ciofini
Ilaria studied at the University of Florence (Italy) where she got a Laurea in Chimica (Master) before moving to the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) for a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry. After the PhD, she spent one year as postdoctoral researcher at the University of Würzburg (Germany) before landing to ChimieParisTech-PSL in Paris (France), first as CNRS postdoctoral researcher, next as CNRS software engineer and finally as CNRS Research Director. Since 2017, she is the Vice President for Research at ChimieParisTech – PSL. Her research is focused on the development of theoretical approaches for the description of reactivity and photophysical properties of molecular and hybrid systems. A background that with no doubt is boosting her participation in Innocore -EELISA´s R&I strategy- and the efforts to connect education, research and innovation.
In her own words:
I’ve moved around Europe and I’ve fulfilled very different positions in the world of academic research which probably made me an ‘unstable product’ of the European culture and definitely made me receptive to new experiences. I hope to contribute with this background to make EELISA an inclusive space where fundamental science meets innovation.
Her key ideas to define EELISA:
1. Share 2. Structure 3. Change
Dóra Pivarcsi-Fekete
She works at Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), Hungary since 2015. Until 2018, she coordinated various scholarship programs at BME, which meant daily contact with incoming international students, professors, dormitory management and members of the International Mentor Team. As an international coordinator, her tasks currently include fostering and intensifying existing international relationships, local coordination of the ATHENS program, assisting the implementation of EELISA European University project, and providing wide practical and technical support to international events (conferences, project meetings) hosted by the University. But what Dóra enjoys the most – and makes her smile every morning- is the wide variety of tasks and the opportunity to be part of an international community through university partnerships and networks.
In her own words:
In order to focus on a new perspective of Engineering education, I believe we need to provide a strong support within our non-academic staff, and find the best ways to cooperate with EELISA community members. I wish to help integrating staff members to the program through information sessions and in our daily work, and show them the opportunity of international networking.
Her key ideas to define EELISA:
1. Community 2. Prominent 3. Innovative
Simona Gallerani
Simona studied Astrophysics at the International School for Advanced Studies in Trieste (Italy) and is now Associate Professor at Scuola Normale Superiore. Her research activity is focused on the most distant galaxies and black holes formed after the Big Bang. She also studies the conditions for the emergence of Life on Earth and in Space. In the midst of her intensive research work, she always remembers the words she said when she was looking at the moon at the age of 5: “When I grow up, I want to be a crazy scientist, like dad¨. She is now a perfectly sane EELISA faculty – researcher.
In her own word:
¨I believe that a key step for an “inclusive” Society, as the one EELISA has in mind, is making science open to everybody. This process starts by transferring the beauty of natural sciences and the enthusiasm of research to young people, trying to reach even the most inaccessible users. I’m on it!¨.
Her key ideas to define EELISA:
1. Inclusion 2. Ecology 3. Revolution
Marie-Christine Bert
Marie-Christine Bert She studied business administration and economics, holding master degrees from a business school and from Sorbonne University. She has spent half of her career in global companies in maritime transportation and data industry, and as tech company entrepreneur. And the second half, she has been dedicated to higher education institutions. She currently serves as the Director for International Relations and Corporate Partnerships at Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, coordinating the institution’s engagement in EELISA. Marie-Christine is never so happy as when it comes to exploring new territories, bridging cultures together and building sustainable new patterns. Exactly the place where she is now !
In her own words:
I see EELISA as a game changer for our societies. The European Engineering Degree will embody the impact of a STEM-based education which is linked to multidisciplinary approaches, embrace complexity and commits to social progress. Those skills require a more gender balanced new generation of engineers adapted to the modern age. Contributions made by women like Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu and others, to the traditionaly male dominated industry of engineering are eloquent.
Her key ideas do define EELISA:
1. Engineering 2. Citizenship 3.Perspective
