On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the ICB laboratory, in partnership with the departments of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology at the University of Burgundy Europe (UBE), was pleased to welcome Marielle Poussou-Plesse, Senior Lecturer at the LIR3S Laboratory (UBE), for a conference and discussion entitled “Why are policies and practices of equality in higher education and research crucial for the system’s performance and the future of society?”

Organized as part of the “Let’s Talk About Parity” initiative, this meeting brought together teaching staff, researchers, administrative staff, and students to discuss a major issue in higher education and research: gender equality.

Marielle Poussou-Plesse highlighted the systemic mechanisms that still hinder true equality in scientific careers today. Drawing on recent data, she demonstrated that equality policies are not only ethical imperatives, but also drivers of performance, innovation, and social cohesion for higher education and research institutions.

The ensuing discussion allowed participants to exchange ideas on best practices, persistent obstacles, and concrete action plans at the laboratory, department, and institutional levels. The need for training, awareness-raising, and evaluation of implemented actions was emphasized repeatedly.

The ICB warmly thanks Marielle Poussou-Plesse for her insightful presentation, as well as all the participants for their attendance and contributions. This conference is part of a broader reflection on gender equality within our laboratory and the university.