Women in physics

Women are under-represented in physics, and face many additional hurdles in their careers compared with men, such as sexism, harassment and unequal opportunities. Here, we highlight the amazing work of current female physicists, the latest news and studies on gender inequality, and women from history whose significant contributions are often glossed over.

Journey to the stars: the personal stories of women in astronomy

Sarafina El-Badry Nance: an uplifting tale of passion, resilience and strength

cartoon of women's heads surrounded by icons representing science, engineering and ideas

Attention all allies: why there are so few women in science and how you can help

Equity and opportunity for women in physics

The importance of citing Black women in physics

Physics is something that girls fancy

Jess Wade says that recent high-profile comments that girls don’t like physics perpetuate false gender stereotypes and limit young people’s aspirations

Why we need to keep talking about equality in physics

Jess Wade and Maryam Zaringhalam discuss the implications of poor diversity in physics – and what can be done to create a level playing field in the subject

How to create a conference environment that welcomes everyone

Caroline Müllenbroich and Sarah Croke describe how they supported under-represented groups at the Conference for Undergraduate Women and Non-bina...

Surveys and studies

White heterosexual men have systematic advantages in science, finds study

An analysis of survey data has found that white able-bodied heterosexual men are uniquely privileged and experience a wide range of advantages at work

Citing like it’s 1995: why women physicists find their papers referenced less

Analysis shows that general physics journals have the largest citation gap between men and women in physics

Female academics migrate shorter distances and to fewer countries than men, finds study

Analysis suggests that the gender gap among mobile scholars is narrowing

Woman giving a presentation in a business meeting

Improving soft skills crucial to keeping women in science, finds study

Early-career women in science who spend time developing their “soft skills” see a boost in their self-confidence and likelihood to stay in work

Women less likely to be included as authors on scientific papers, finds study

Effect seen at every stage of a woman’s career and may help to account for differences in the observed output of male and female scientists

Group of students in physics and engineering working on electronics robotics project in laboratory session

Lab gender roles not due to personal choice, finds study

Male and female task preferences for experimental work are largely the same despite what is seen in the lab

Women working in physics today

Merritt Moore: the physicist and ballet dancer mixing science and art using robots and dance

Joy in cultural and community connections

Engineering world-changing materials: Nicola Spaldin on the importance of curiosity-driven research and what it means to be a physicist

Lia Li: the physicist unlocking navigation technology

Meet the technosignature researcher on the lookout for exo-civilizations

Exploring the mystery of neutrino mass using cryogenics deep under a mountain

Pursuing joy in an alien world

An illustration of Jocelyn Bell Burnell by Jess Wade

‘Look happy dear, you’ve just made a discovery’

Christine Tremblay stood in front of telecoms equipment

Using physics to fuel fibre-optic innovation

Great female physicists of the past

How Vera Rubin broke barriers and convinced the astronomy community that dark matter exists

Exploring the nuclear world: the life and science of Gertrude Scharff-Goldhaber

Sidney Perkowitz delves into the life of the trailblazing nuclear physicist, who overcame significant odds to pursue her work

Hertha Ayrton: pioneering inventor and suffragette

Anita Chandran explores the remarkable life of Hertha Ayrton – a physicist, mathematician, engineer, inventor and suffragette whose work benefitted the lives of many

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin using astronomical equipment

Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: the woman who found hydrogen in the stars

Mildred Dresselhaus: a giant of nanoscience

Helen Edwards: pioneer of Fermilab’s Tevatron

Explore more women in physics

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