The basic idea is to shine a light on a reality that for most is relegated to the shadows. In fact, the world of science is rarely compared to the concept of inclusion. Instead, it happens that precisely in environments where one would imagine a prevalence of “enlightened” minds, the gender issue represents a serious problem. To be faced head on. Four female scientists of international standing will try, united not only by friendship but also by the obstacles encountered in establishing themselves in the scientific field. Not due to lack of competence or dedication but only due to the fact of being women in a predominantly male and, often, chauvinistic world.
These are the “Invisible Universes” that we will try to explore in depth in a public meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Serra San Bruno, the “green” heart of the Vibo mountains, as part of the “Estate Brigante 2026” cultural event. It is organized by the Il Brigante association, a collective active in the area for over 30 years now which, among other things, gave rise to an initiative for the centenary of the birth of the southern Italian scholar Francesco Tassone, during which the family of the intellectual, founder of the magazine «Quaderni calabresi» and of the publishing house «Qualecultura», sealed the donation to the Municipality of Serra of a book collection consisting of almost 4500 volumes.
Speaking of “science, research and women at the frontier of physics”, we will try to associate the unresolved issue of gender equality with scientific dissemination. The four guests are Teresa Barillari (research group leader and deputy team leader at the Max Planck Institute for Physics in Garching), Valentina Cairo (Research Staff Physicist at Cern), Evelin Meoni (associate professor of Experimental Physics of Fundamental Interactions and Applications at the Department of Physics of the University of Calabria and associated with the National Institute of Nuclear Physics), Barbara Mele (Research director of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics at the Sapienza University of Rome). In dialogue with Daria De Raffele and Sergio Pelaia, they will talk about what they do in their respective fields, retracing the paths taken to get to work in particle physics. Including the difficulties encountered in a world “dominated” by men.
«I believe it is fundamental that an initiative of this kind is held in a town in the internal areas of Southern Italy – explained Teresa Barillari, from whom the idea for the event was born – because my human and professional journey also started from these places. I would like, perhaps, some young girls who listen to us to become aware of the infinite possibilities before them, but also the tools to face the obstacles they may have to face. Always with the awareness of being able to get anywhere only with one’s own strength.”
No stranger to scientific dissemination initiatives aimed at bringing physics outside of academic contexts, a few years ago Barillari donated precious “pieces” from the Cern particle accelerator to the Serrese high school where he studied – before arriving at Unical and then in Antonino Zichichi’s team.