Outstanding Diversity! Physics Team Wins JMU Würzburg’s 2025 Gender Equality Award

Overview

More diversity. More role models. More perspectives. The Equal Opportunities in Physics Taskforce is to receive the 2025 Gender Equality Award from Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg. Presented every two years, the award highlights projects showing outstanding dedication to advancing equality in science. The Equal Opportunities in Physics Taskforce brings together faculty, researchers, and students working together to promote diversity in research and improve the work–life balance. As part of this initiative, the Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat has played a key role in several of its award-winning projects. The award was presented at the JMU anniversary celebrations on May 12, 2025, in Würzburg’s Neubaukirche church.

The Equal Opportunities in Physics Taskforce was founded just last year at the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at JMU Würzburg. It brings together all equality-related efforts within the department while launching new projects that empower FLINTA* individuals (women, lesbians, intersex, non-binary, transgender, and agender people) and create more inclusive opportunities in physics. The initiative works in close collaboration with the Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat – Complexity and Topology in Quantum Matter.

Working Together for Greater Diversity 

The Equal Opportunities in Physics Taskforce is supported by a broad alliance of faculty, research staff, and students. It’s headed by the initiator, Adriana Pálffy-Buß – Professor of Theoretical Quantum Information and Quantum Optics at JMU Würzburg and a member of ct.qmat. The Cluster of Excellence has been a strong partner in planning and implementing key projects. Team members including Dr. Alina Markova, ct.qmat’s Equal Opportunities Officer, and Katharina Klug from the Administrative Office have been central to this success.

“We’re proud that ct.qmat is part of this taskforce,” says Ralph Claessen, Professor of Experimental Physics at JMU Würzburg and ct.qmat’s spokesperson in Würzburg. “Beyond our research, one of our core goals is to bring more diversity into physics – especially quantum physics – and to spark enthusiasm for the field among girls and women.”

Making Diversity Visible, Opening New Pathways

“The projects for more diversity and equal opportunities carried out so far include networking events such as the FLINTA* Barbecue, the “Meet Your Role Model” breakfasts for female professors, and the “Women - Physics - Career Paths” lecture series. These activities not only make women’s contributions in physics more visible, but also promote direct exchange and mentorship.

Another standout project is ct.qmat’s traveling exhibition “RETHINKING PHYSICS: A Century of Quantum Mechanics – Time for a Female Perspective!”, which features portraits of women physicists at every stage of their careers. To mark Quantum2025, the United Nations’ International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the exhibition is being shown at over 50 locations around the world, including in Australia, Austria, Germany, and the United States.

Taskforce to Receive the Gender Equality Award 

JMU Würzburg presents the Gender Equality Award every two years at its anniversary celebrations to recognize outstanding efforts that foster equality and improve the work–life balance in science. The 2025 Gender Equality Award was presented during this year’s anniversary celebrations at Würzburg’s Neubaukirche church on May 12.