The exhibition “Life as a scientist”

The exhibition “Life as a scientist” presents the faces and the competences of some of the greatest Italian women scientists, protagonists of the “100 women against stereotypes” project that was created to highlight female expertise in sectors still perceived as male dominated.

The series of portraits, by the famous photographer Gerald Bruneau, was conceived and implemented by Bracco Foundation to help overcome prejudices in scientific practicewhich the collective imagination still views, incorrectly, as strictly masculine.

Female biologists, chemists, pharmacologists, engineers, astrophysicists, mathematicians, surgeons, palaeontologists, computer scientists: these are just some of the professions with female scientists at the highest levels. Observing each portrait is like crossing a threshold into protected and private environments, places of research and thought. These are the places of work of the female experts: laboratories, universities, surgeries where every day women and men are committed to advancing the frontiers of knowledge.

Several studies on the female presence in the information media show that women are rarely called in by the media as experts. It is almost always men who explain and interpret the world: in 76% of cases according to the Italian results of the Global Media Monitoring Project 2020. To help attain equal opportunity, with merit as the criterion for career and visibility, in 2016 the “100 women against stereotypes" project was created from an idea by the Pavia Observatory and the Gi.U.Li.A. Association developed with Bracco Foundation thanks to the support of the Representation of the European Commission in Italy.

Alongside the online databank and to volumes published by Egea that present the excellent profiles of female experts in various sectors of knowledge, Bracco Foundation is proposing today, with this photographic exhibition, a complementary account with the aim of bringing the public closer to the female face of research through some of the greatest Italian female scientists today, and at the same time portray sciences beauty, accessibility and, why not, enjoyment.

ITALY:

• Milan, from January 15 to June 30, 2019, at CDI - Centro Diagnostico Italiano. The cycle of exhibitions started in 2010 in collaboration with the CDI is renewed every year in the conviction, backed by scientific evidence, that exposure to art and culture helps an overall improvement in the quality of life.
• Bari, from September 14 to September 22, 2019 at "Fiera del Levante" In partnership with Regione Puglia.
• Milano (selection), from September 29 to November 1 at Civic Aquarium of Milan.
• National Geographic Festival (virtual tour): from November 23 2020 for the National Geographic Festival.
• Todi (selection), from September 24 to October 3 2021 for Todimmagina, contemporary photography Festival
• Pavia, from 22 September to 30 November 2023 at the Collegio Santa Caterina da Siena
• Seregno, from March 2 to March 24, 2024 at Civic Gallery

• Rome, from 30 January to 12 February 2025 at the Chamber of Deputies

INTERNATIONAL TOUR:

• Washington, from April 9 to June 3, 2019 at the Embassy of Italy in Washington D.C. On the occasion of the Italian Research Day in the World.
• Philadelphia, from September 20 to October 31, 2019 at Sbarro Health Research Organization
• Chicago, from December 2 to December 20 2019, at Italian Cultural Institute
• Los Angeles (virtual tour)  
• New York, September 16, 2021 at the Consulate General of Italy. On the occasion of "The Italian Research Community in New York" event, promoted by ISSNAF and AIRIcerca
• Mexico City, from February 12 to March 8, 2022 at the Italian Cultural Institute in Mexico City in cooperation with Italian Embassy; from May 7 to June 5 2022, Chihuahua, Museo Sebastian, Siglo House; from Novembre 25 2022 to January 6  2023, Zihuatanego, Guerrero, Coco Museum
• Prague, from March 8 to April 15 2022, at the Italian Cultural Istitute in Prague 
• Panama, from October to Novembre 31 2022, at Alta Plaza Mall
• Israel, from March 8 until June 2023 in Technion City, Haifa, at David and Janet Polak Visitors Center
• Costa Rica, from 9 to 24 March 2023 Joaquin Garcia Monge, National University of Costa Rica, Heredia
• Brazil, from 5 May to 3 June 2024, University of São Paul
• Switzerland, from November 5 to 7, 2024, at the Bracco "Hexagon" production site in Geneva
• China, from November 16 to 18, 2024, at the Bund Art Museum in Shanghai
• Costa Rica, from 17 to 25 February 2025 at the Technological Institute of Costa Rica