María Josefa Yzuel to receive the igUAltat 2017 prize

02/03/2017

The igUABlitat 2017 prize conferred by the University of Alacant in recognition of the promotion of equality between women and men goes to emeritus professor María Josefa Yzuel from the Department of Physics. The prize recognises the work carried out by individuals, groups, entities or institutions which stand out for their defence of equality between women and men, and also to professionals whose trajectory exemplifies academic excellence, for giving visibility to the contribution of women in scientific advances and social progress, and helping to break away from the androcentric perspective prevailing over science, research and academia. This prize was first awarded in 2013 and coincided with the commemoration of International Women's Day.

With an extensive scientific production and important contributions in different areas of Optics, the research conducted by Dr Yzuel has been applied and developed in areas such as medical imaging, where she was the first to suggest applying specific improvement techniques. The nomination of Dr Yzuel has received ample support from both outside and within the University of Alacant, where several centres, departments and research groups backed the nomination and with whom Dr Yzuel has maintained a solid and long-standing academic and research relationship.

Dr Yzuel earned a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Sciences with honours in 1962 and received her PhD in 1966. In 1967 she travelled abroad to continue her training, when this was not something commonly done, and received a grant by the British Council to conduct postdoctoral researcher at the University of Reading; the only woman to receive a grant that year.

Alongside her academic and scientific achievements, María Josefa Yzuel Giménez is a committed member of several scientific societies, both local and international. She was the first woman president of the Spanish Optical Society (1993-1996) and secretary general of the European Optical Society (1996-1998), the first time a Spanish scientist occupied that position. She was also the president of the SPIE The international society for Optics and Photonics in 2009.

Throughout her career she has defended the role of women in science and has given visibility to their contribution to social development and progress. From the creation of the Association of Women Researchers and Technologists (AMIT), she works towards defending non-discrimination and equal opportunities for women and men in academia with the objective of helping and fostering the incorporation of young women researchers into the research field. Her commitment led her to found the Women Physicists' Group of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics.

María Josefa Yzuel was president of the Spanish Committee of the International Year of Light and has receive honorary doctorate degrees from two universities.

The prize will be awarded to her on Wednesday 8 March 2017 at the Paranimf of the University of Alacant as part of the institutional events held in celebration of International Women's Day.