From 6-11 July, we took part in this year’s Young Atom Opticians (YAO) 2025 conference in Innsbruck – an international conference organized by and for students, primarily aimed at Master's and PhD students in atomic, molecular, optical, and quantum physics. This year's conference held special significance as it was the 30th anniversary of YAO, returning to its birthplace in Innsbruck, where it was first held in 1995.
Our Gender Officer, Karoline Irschara, gave a talk on gender equality in physics, presenting recent data on the representation of women in physics in Austria and across the EU. She explored the structural reasons behind the gender gap and highlighted why equity is essential for scientific excellence and innovation. Karoline also introduced our platform, atominnen.at, showcasing new features and interactive data visualizations.
Following the talk, we had an open and lively discussion with many thoughtful contributions from the audience – showing just how relevant and important this topic has become within the quantum community. Conversations continued over a relaxed atom*innen lunch for women and gender minorities, offering even more opportunities to connect and exchange ideas.
A big thank you to the YAO 2025 organizing team – Eva Casotti, Clemens Ulm, Johanna Hennebichler, and Alberto Canali – for hosting such a well-run and inspiring conference. And thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, and shared your thoughts with us. Let's stay in touch :-)
Fotos by IQOQI | D. Jordan
