OUTSIDE THE LAB: Gender, Values, and the Social Dimension of Science

L'oratrice, Nastassja Cipriani, est titulaire d'un doctorat en mathématiques de la KU Leuven (2017) et s'est spécialisée dans la vulgarisation scientifique des questions liées au genre et à la place des femmes dans les sciences.

Au cours de cette présentation interactive d'une heure, elle abordera les enjeux de genre dans le monde scientifique, les biais qui peuvent influencer la recherche et les questions de représentation des femmes et des minorités de genre dans les disciplines scientifiques.

• Mercredi 30 septembre 2026
• Début de la conférence : 18h15
• Forum D, Campus du Solbosch
• Conférence en anglais

L'événement est ouvert à l'ensemble de la communauté de la Faculté des Sciences et s'adresse tout particulièrement aux étudiant·es.

Nous vous attendons nombreuses et nombreux pour cette réflexion sur les dimensions sociales de la science.

Abstract of the talk

OUTSIDE THE LAB: GENDER, VALUES, AND THE SOCIAL

DIMENSION OF SCIENCE
NASTASSJA CIPRIANI

Science is one of the most powerful tools humans have developed to understand
the natural world. Through scientific theories and models, we can describe, explain,
and predict natural phenomena with an unprecedented level of precision. However,
over the past several decades, many scientists and philosophers have begun to
ask a fundamental question: is science really so perfect and neutral that it can
function independently of cultural and social influences?
Fields such as philosophy of science, epistemology, and science and technology
studies have long argued that the answer is no. Those who produce scientific
knowledge cannot fully detach themselves from their background assumptions
and beliefs. As a consequence, scientific theories and models may at times be
incomplete, inaccurate, or — more troublingly — biased. In this public talk, we
examine what it means to approach science from a gender perspective. Ranging
from the marginalization of women in academic institutions to gender bias in
scientific methods and results, we highlight the crucial role of social factors in
shaping knowledge, and argue that underlying cultural values and assumptions
should be made explicit rather than left unexamined.
Why does this matter? Because careful and critical reflection on how research
is done is essential if contemporary science and its applications are to become less
partial, less biased, and more socially responsible. The broader goal is to gain a
deeper understanding of how knowledge is produced and, ultimately, to foster a
more inclusive and robust science for everyone.