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Welcome to the first Making Waves event this autumn: Making Waves, together with the PHYS Diversity Team, invites everybody to a morning breakfast event on 5. September 2025. We have two prominent speakers who reflect on how to create a more equal and just work environment in physics and science. Marilù Chiofalo and Tzula Propp both advocate for integration and diversity and will visit Aalto to share their thoughts supporting underrepresented groups in quantum science. They will present experiences and point to ways forward from their own perspective. What does subjectivity/objectivity mean in science?  How can we build and maintain effective peer-support networks? Come and listen to our two inspiring presenters and enjoy breakfast in good company!

Marilù Chiofalo, Professor at the Physics Department, University of Pisa
“Subjectivity and objectivity in science: a gender perspective”

Marilù will share her current thoughts and insights on aspects of subjectivity/objectivity in science from a gender perspective. What effect does this have on evaluation processes? And what does it mean forging unconventional careers between disciplines?  

Tzula Propp: 
“Mentorship, Failure, and Queerness: Building Resilience and Community in Physics through Near-Peer Mentorship”

In this talk, we’ll discuss the unique challenge of mentorship to and within communities without representation “at the top”. How do we provide adequate mentorship without relatable role models? How do we build diverse, inclusive environments if the environments are not already diverse and inclusive? And how on earth do we make DEI-work sustainable and prevent student/employee activist burnout? This talk will focus on Dr. Tzula Propp’s experience running the Queer Trans Resiliency in Physics (Mycelial) Network (QTRiP-Net), which has morphed into the global organization Diversity in Quantum (DiviQ)’s Near Peer (Queer Mycelial) Mentorship Network. 

About the Speakers:

Marilù Chiofalo is a professor of theoretical condensed-matter physics working across disciplines and an expert in physics education research, who is also active in outreach and communication often at the intersection between arts and science, and advocates for gender differences. Among other initiatives, she is part of the Quantum Flagship QTEdu-CSA ecosystem and created numerous radio programs and videos, has been active in -and founder of- women movements and associations, and is now part of . She has been a city administrator and politician taking care, among other delegations, of education and diversity  policies, and participating in national planning against gender violence.

Tzula Propp [they/them] is a quantum theorist working at Leiden University in the Netherlands  where they research novel applications of the quantum internet, measurement theory, and the quantum2classical transition, and are currently active as President and co-founder of . They are passionate about social justice and dismantling the cultures of patriarchal white supremacy embedded within Physics as a discipline, as well as supporting the professional development and resilience of students from marginalized groups in Quantum.

Registration

Free refreshments are served. Please register at this link so we can make sure that there is enough food and seats for everyone.

Schedule

• 8:45-9:00 Breakfast! Tea/Coffee and vegan sandwiches
• 9:00-9:30 Talk by Prof. Marilù Chiofalo
• 9:30-10:00 Talk by Dr. Tzula Propp
• 10:00-10:30 Discussion and questions

For any questions about the event, please contact Bernadette Gehl-Väisänen or Enrico Glerean.  The venue is accessible, and if you need further assistance related to accessibility please get in touch. We follow the Aalto Code of Conduct.