Science Camp 2025: 24 high school girls immersed in science at ESPCI Paris–PSL

Holidays in white coats: 24 high school girls immerse themselves in science at ESPCI Paris–PSL

During the autumn half-term holidays, 24 high school girls from all over France swapped their school bags for white coats. Welcomed at ESPCI Paris–PSL from 20 to 25 October, they spent a week immersed in the world of research laboratories. The aim was to give them a practical introduction to the world of science and encourage them to consider studying and pursuing careers in science.

‘With this camp, we want to offer them a week of experiences, encounters and discoveries so that they realise that science belongs to them and that they can forge their own path in it,’ explains Emmanuel Fort, professor at ESPCI Paris–PSL and director of the Espace des sciences Pierre-Gilles de Gennes (ESPGG), ESPCI’s scientific and cultural outreach centre.

An immersion in the heart of the laboratories

Supervised by researchers and engineering students, participants alternated between lectures, practical work inspired by the school’s curriculum, and scientific creativity workshops. They also visited several iconic places of learning, such as the Curie Museum and the Paris Observatory – PSL.

This was a rare opportunity to get hands-on experience, experiment and interact directly with those who conduct research on a daily basis.

‘This camp embodies the spirit of ESPCI: learning through experience, crossing disciplines and discovering science through those who do it. If this week gives them confidence, then we will have succeeded,’ emphasises Vincent Croquette, Director General of the School.

Beyond the experiments and discoveries, this week was also a human adventure. Twenty-four high school girls, from different French departments as well as Canada and Turkey, shared their collective life and scientific curiosity. Some confirmed their vocation; others discovered that science could be an open, accessible and stimulating path.

A long-standing commitment to gender equality

Through the Chemistry Biology Innovation Laboratory, the school is active on the platform "Come see my work ." It offers internships to high school students who do not have a personal network enabling them to contact university staff in their search for an internship. Other initiatives are being carried out as part of the MERCASTO programme to enable high school students from Trappes (78) to visit ESPCI Paris - PSL, visit the premises and undertake internships.

ESPCI Paris – PSL also takes internal action by regularly raising awareness among teaching and research staff about gender parity and diversity issues. Last year, for example, a conference was held to help them better identify cognitive biases during recruitment. More recently, a meeting devoted to the origins and consequences of gender imbalance in science continued this collective reflection.

Press review

• Esteval -A science camp at an engineering school dedicated to female secondary school students during the All Saints’ Day holidays
• Franceinfo - ‘It proves that we can really do it’: an article highlighting the symbolic significance and impact of the internship reserved for female high school students.
• France Inter (podcast ‘Sur le terrain’) - An audio report that recounts the experiences of participants in the science immersion programme.
• RFI - ‘A science camp at ESPCI to inspire high school girls to pursue careers in science’