Laura Shobard heads the Polytechnic School and poses in her office next to the famous hat each new student receives. Lea Crespi
The first woman appointed head of the famous school, a symbol of French excellence, is a researcher who defends the crossroads. Interview:
Madame Figaro . – Wake up time?
Laura Shobard. – 6 hours for leisurely reading or diving into my work topics. Sometimes I judge it too early, but I find a certain balance in it.
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The height of your position.
To lead a school of which I was a student, born 228 years ago, to put the best scientific minds at the service of the universal good. And to preserve the openness and the rise of power that has been conditioned in the last five years in the Polytechnic, at a key moment in its development in an international context.
Need to give numbers here and now?
A campus (at the Palazzo), 3,800 students (including 40% international), 23 laboratories, 1,500 teacher-researchers and a collaboration with four other engineering schools to form a huge and visible whole in terms of research.
If we go back to the roots.
A family of teachers, parents of history and philosophy professors who instilled in me a great sense of curiosity and devotion. We also talked a lot about politics.
In the military environment, the rank and uniform protect and to some extent hide the issue of gender. we respect the function.
Laura Shobard
Who trusted you?
Several times I was given the opportunity to study new subjects. At the Ministry of the Armed Forces, I did industrial strategy as well as finance and policy, including a mission to encourage innovation in defence. From this carte blanche was born a dedicated sovereign wealth fund.
Obstacles on the way.
When we carry objects of creation or transformation, we must convince. This is not always the case. I had to admit that there is a question of time. Understand that deviations are not always waived. I always found the objects I had worked on on my way.
Being a woman in a man’s world?
On the contrary, I was quite protected. In the military environment, the rank and uniform protect and to some extent hide the issue of gender. we respect function. On the other hand, at the behest of La Villette, I moved on to the world of women’s culture.
Your course accelerators.
My strength is having different experiences. Every turn made was an accelerator; by changing my frame of reference, I learned to trust what I had accumulated in another universe.
Your challenges for tomorrow.
Despite the free course for French students and merit recruitment, diversity at the Polytechnic could be improved. The school’s goals, therefore mine. Work with researchers to challenge persistent cultural biases, double the number of scholarship recipients, and reach 30% women in the engineering cycle by 2026 (from 20% today, editor’s note).
When do you go offline?
Cultural moments have always been a refuge for me. they are my yoga. As a student, I spent all my free time in art houses and the theater.
What would you like to convey?
The idea of a double culture. I come from a literary family, I studied science. When I was a weapons engineer, I kept in touch with the research community. Today, I continue to stay in touch with the cultural world. It enriches the look.
Your definition of influence.
The power to help others, to circulate ideas.
A thought that sets you free.
You have to pick your battles and see them through to the end. When I got to the cabinet, I was warned that I would be wanted all the time. We need to prioritize those we would like to act on when we leave. Write them on three post-it notes and stick them to the edge of the screen. they become a compass.
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Source: Le Figaro
