On May 16, SZTE’s Botanical Garden inaugurated the Trail of Women Scientists in the storybook setting of its historic rose garden. Created at the initiative of the Partiscum Club, a civic organization dedicated to fostering cultural and public life in Szeged, and brought to life by the Botanical Garden, the memorial trail pays tribute to outstanding female researchers and artists connected to the University of Szeged whose achievements have left a lasting imprint on science, the arts, and the life of the university community.
SZTE’s Trail of Women Scientists is at once a memorial site, an open-air exhibition, and an invitation to more fully recognize the contributions of women in academia and the arts. The ceramic sculptures placed throughout the Botanical Garden’s iconic rose garden serve as reminders that women scientists, artists, educators, and researchers have played an important role in shaping both SZTE’s past and present.
Photo: Dávid Miskolci
The inauguration ceremony opened with a performance by the woodwind trio of the Béla Bartók Faculty of Arts, setting an elegant tone for the occasion. Guests were then welcomed by Anikó Németh, Director of the Botanical Garden, who spoke about the origins of the initiative in her address:
“In 2015, the United Nations declared February 11 the International Day of Women and Girls in Science to draw global attention to the importance of celebrating women scientists and giving their work the recognition it deserves,” the Director noted. “It was in this spirit that the Partiscum Club envisioned the Trail of Women Scientists – as a tribute to the outstanding women who have helped shape the University’s history. At the same time, male scientists have tended to occupy a more prominent place in the University’s collective memory in Szeged, which makes the trail created in the Botanical Garden a long-overdue recognition of women’s achievements.”
Anikó Németh added that one of the key inspirations behind the memorial site was the Nobel Prize awarded to Katalin Karikó, a graduate of the University of Szeged. “The global recognition she received has become a source of inspiration for the entire university community, highlighting the value of perseverance, dedication, and hard work,” she said.
Looking ahead, the Director emphasized that the Trail of Women Scientists is not a finished project, but the beginning of a living tribute. “This list is far from complete, as many women researchers working today may one day become part of it. The memorials inaugurated today honor the outstanding female researchers and artists of the past while also inspiring future generations as they begin their journeys in science and the arts,” she concluded.
Prof. Dr. Márta Széll (left) and Anikó Németh. Photo: Dávid Miskolci
Prof. Dr. Márta Széll, Vice-Rector for Strategic Affairs at the University of Szeged, also spoke at the ceremony, reflecting on the evolving role of women in research and leadership through her own professional journey. She recalled receiving the UNESCO–L’Oréal Award for Women in Science in 2008, an honor that led to a year of public appearances and discussions focused on the experiences, challenges, and achievements of women in research, the arts, and leadership.
Márta Széll pointed out: “Back in 2008 and 2009, data showed that although many women were studying at universities and pursuing research careers, a ‘glass ceiling’ still limited opportunities for many of them to reach leadership positions in research or the arts.” She added that “the situation has changed significantly over the past two decades: the once widely discussed glass ceiling has gradually become less pronounced, and increasing numbers of women researchers are showing that a successful academic career can be built alongside family life.”
In her speech, the Vice-Rector also highlighted Nobel laureate SZTE professor Katalin Karikó as an inspiring example, emphasizing that her scientific achievements not only opened new horizons in research but also transformed the lives of millions. She also praised Prof. Dr. Márta Görög, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at the University of Szeged, who was invited to serve as Hungary’s Minister of Justice in May 2026, noting that her career similarly shows how outstanding professional achievement in the legal field can be successfully combined with family life.
Photo: Dávid Miskolci
The first memorials along the Trail of Women Scientists honor the work and legacy of biochemist Katalin Karikó, botanist Vera Csapody, painter and graphic artist Márta Kopasz, biochemist Ilona Banga, historian and university professor Mária Ormos, physician-biochemist Mária Wollemann, and pharmacist Aranka Jancsó.
Inspired by botanical forms, the ceramic sculptures were created by industrial designer Eszter Anita Szűcs, lead designer at Pataki Tiles Kft. Together, the works transform the historic rose garden into a place of remembrance, inspiration, and discovery – one that honors the achievements of the past while encouraging future generations to follow their own paths in science and the arts.
Original Hungarian article by Fruzsina Nánai
Photos by Dávid Miskolci
