Honoring Female Nobel Prize Laurates in Science

Written by Grisela Marti on behalf of the Science Teachers at GESM

Between 1901 and 2025, the Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine, Chemistry and Physics in Memory of Alfred Nobel were awarded to 635 men, while only 24 women received this prestigious recognition. These numbers illustrate a vast gender gap in laureates, particularly in chemistry and physics, where fewer than ten percent of all winners have been female.

Marie Curie became the first women to receive a Nobel Prize in 1903, and to this day, she remains the only woman honored twice: the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and in Chemistry in 1911.

Encouragingly, from 2000 to 2025, we have seen a notable rise in female Nobel laureates in science. Of the 24 women who have received these awards, 16 were recognized in the last 25 years alone.

To honor these remarkable women who dare to pursue careers in science and went on to win a Nobel Prize, for their courage, brilliance and perseverance, the science teachers at GESM, together with their students, dedicated a week-long exhibition to celebrate female Nobel laureates in science. The exhibition was displayed across laboratories in A205 and A206, the STEM room and the ICT room.

Moreover, Grade 11 took a leading role by engaging younger peers and broadcasting presentations about several Nobel Prize laureates, including Christine Nüsslein-Volhard, Katalin Kariko, Emmanuelle Charpentier or Frances Arnold.

As we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, this exhibition reminds us that representation matters. By learning from these women that changed the word, we empower our students to see themselves as future innovators, researchers and leaders.