Gender diversity in science: an evening to exchange views and take action

This event will bring together speakers from the worlds of research, business and academia to exchange perspectives and identify concrete courses of action.

The evening’s programme includes inspiring personal accounts, small-group discussions and a chance to socialise.

The event is open to everyone (admission €5, free for students). Go to the ticket office.

Speakers

Lena Harikiopoulos – Cordova

A graduate of École Centrale (class of ’97, civil engineering), Lena has made equality and cultural transformation within organisations her profession after spending 25 years working on major infrastructure construction projects in France and abroad. As founder of Consequally, she now works in particular with male-dominated sectors such as construction, engineering, transport and energy to promote greater equality in the workplace. Winner of the 2024 Women in Engineering Award, she is also Chair of the Board of Directors at Centrale Nantes Alumni, where she leads the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the 5050-Agir pour l’égalité project. She also chairs the French AFNOR Gender Equality Committee and represents it at the ISO.

Paul Asquier

Heading out to the open sea with Paul, who heads up Ouest Sécurité Marine. Based in Pornic and founded in 2007 by maritime cooperatives, the company offers fishermen and all seafarers the best safety equipment at sea, at a fair price. A project rooted in the social and solidarity economy, where everyone’s safety is the priority.

Kristel Chanard

The Earth is moving, and so are the lines! As a research fellow at the National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information (IGN), Kristel Chanard studies the links between climate, water resources and Earth deformation at the Paris Institute of Earth Physics. Winner of the 2025 Irène Joliot-Curie ‘Young Female Scientist’ Prize, she also devotes her energy to inspiring young girls to pursue careers in science, through outreach, mentoring and training.

Marie Castets

Head of the ‘Cell Death and Paediatric Cancers’ team at the Lyon Cancer Research Centre, Marie Castets seeks to better understand and treat childhood cancers. Convinced that we can achieve more together, she launched the national React4Kids network in 2018, which now has over 380 members, and has been leading the Share4Kids open data platform since 2020.

Laurent Marquis

Laurent Marquis, from ‘Ingénieurs pour l’École’, supports the ‘L’Énergie au féminin’ work experience programme: four days during which secondary school girls visit industrial sites, meet female engineers and technicians, and discover career paths in the energy sector. Introducing them to the field, facilitating connections, and opening up possibilities!

Practical information

• 4 November 2026 – 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm
• Centrale Nantes – 1 rue de la Noë, Nantes
• €5 – free for students
• Ticket office

The Égal’IT club

Égal’IT is an association of engineering students at Centrale Nantes committed to encouraging girls to study science and to make a difference! The association organises talks in secondary schools to present engineering degree programmes and promote gender diversity in engineering schools.

The event is organised in collaboration with Nantes University, the Nantes Regional Education Authority, Elles bougent, Women in Tech and HeForShe, and with the support of Centrale Nantes Alumni.