Maria de Lluc Planas Llompart
Postdoc in the “Astrophysical and Cosmological Relativity” department
What is your current position at our institute?
I’m a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) in Potsdam. I work in the Astrophysical and Cosmological Relativity Department, within the Source Modeling and Astrophysics group.
How and when did you choose to do physics?
In Spain, it is very common for young girls who do well in school to be encouraged to study biological sciences, based on the idea that we are more inclined toward social or caregiving roles rather than “pure sciences,” which are often perceived as more individualistic. Since I was very young, I hated the idea of becoming a (medical) doctor, so I decided I wanted to become an astronaut, just to break those stereotypes. As the years passed, and I became more inclined towards maths and physics, and at 17 I chose physics over engineering because I was more interested in understanding how things work than in creating them. Unfortunately, I had to give up on the astronaut dream… I get dizzy even in a canoe!
What is your academic education?
- BSc in Physics at the University of the Balearic Islands.
- MSc in “Advanced Physics and Applied Mathematics” at the University of the Balearic Islands.
- PhD in Physics from the University of the Balearic Islands.
Can you please describe your research?
I study how gravitational waves – ripples in spacetime produced by massive events in the Universe – can be modelled accurately to extract physical information from observations made by detectors such as LIGO, Virgo, KAGRA, and future observatories like ET and LISA. My research focuses on improving theoretical models for binary black hole systems, the most frequently observed sources of gravitational waves, enabling us to characterise the properties of the merging objects and gain new insight into the Universe and black holes themselves.
What would you recommend to a young woman wanting to start a career in physics?
Women are exposed to biases about our capabilities since we are very young. From advertisements showing girls caring for dolls, to teenage years filled with warnings about being careful and cautious, these premises subtly lower our confidence and make us question whether we are “good enough”. So, if you feel that physics is your path, but you are scared of it being “too difficult” or not feeling “good enough” for it, just remind yourself that you are equally worth it as any other person, even when others appear much more confident. Very often, that confidence is something they have simply been raised to have. Surround yourself with supportive environments, look for role models who share your values and lifestyle, and find the balance between doing science and living a life which makes you happy!
What is your vision for women and girls in science in 20 years?
My vision is very positive! With the growing number of women entering STEM fields, young girls will have many more role models who will hopefully encourage them to pursue academic careers in science. As women’s representation continues to increase, I expect a shift in the science career path, which has historically been designed around men simply because they occupied most positions. I hope for an academic journey that accounts for women’s biological realities without penalisation, as well as for different expectations from high-ranking positions that move away from aggressive behaviours traditionally associated with success, which also come from historical male representation.