Our project’s PR manager, Lenka Hanušová, launched the Women in Science campaign to highlight inspiring female scientists working in various research fields at the Institute for Nanomaterials, Innovation, and New Technologies (CXI) at the Technical University of Liberec. This initiative not only showcases the contributions of women in the scientific field but also encourages female students and women of all ages to pursue science and research.
I joined this campaign for several reasons. One of them is the realization of how difficult it is to succeed in a world where most decision-making positions are held by men. Don't get me wrong – I am not a radical feminist. I have a husband, a son, I often get along better with male colleagues than female ones, and I know from experience that an all-female workplace is not always ideal.
However, when it comes to science, and particularly CXI, the reality remains that even though women make up half of the employees, the institute’s leadership is almost entirely male-dominated. With few exceptions, women do not lead departments or research areas, have no decision-making authority, and in most cases, earn lower gross salaries than men.
A 2020 study found that salaries of male researchers in the same scientific category were up to 39% higher than those of female researchers, depending on salary classification and research area. If salaries are supposed to reflect the value of our work, does this mean that female researchers at CXI contribute 39% less than their male colleagues? Or is it simply a systemic issue? This data comes from the publicly available Analysis of Salary Conditions and Working Conditions at CXI (2020). I do not have more recent data, so if the situation has improved, I would be happy to be proven wrong – I am a scientist, not a dogmatist!
Another reason I joined this campaign is to show that a scientific career is not only for young students. Science is open to anyone who has the curiosity to learn, explore, and push the boundaries of knowledge—regardless of age. Due to health issues, I was unable to complete my medical studies as a young woman. Many years later, despite ongoing health challenges, I returned to university at nearly 40 years old to fulfill my dream. Through hard work and determination, I earned two bachelor's degrees, two master's degrees, and a Ph.D., all while balancing work and family life. I embarked on my scientific career 20 years later than the typical academic path—and it was far from easy.
Today, I work as a researcher at CXI, where I focus on innovative applications of advanced materials in practice within the Advanced Materials Department. I also lead the international InterBridge project, which bridges science and art. Our project not only inspires students and the scientific community but also opens the door to creativity and new ways to apply scientific knowledge in the real world.
Because I started my scientific journey later in life, I deeply admire the students of the University of the Third Age at TUL, who prove that the desire for knowledge knows no limits. I have great respect for them, and they are one of the key target groups of our InterBridge project activities. If you follow our website, you have probably noticed that their participation is a regular part of our event reports.
Check out the profiles of female researchers at CXI and discover the inspiring stories of women working in science at our university. Among them, you will also find my own profile, which I have written with humor and irony – yet it remains entirely truthful.
The Technical University of Liberec and CXI support women in science through this initiative. And my story proves that the path to science is open to anyone willing to take it.
Here is the link to the Women in Science campaign: https://cxi.tul.cz/zeny-ve-vede/
Hana Křížová
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