Henriette Faraggi

Henriette Mathieu-Faraggi (26 November 1915 – 6 April 1985) was a French nuclear physicist. She is known for her contributions to the development of French nuclear research, contributing to the SATURNE synchrotron, the Saclay linear accelerator (ALS) and the heavy-ion accelerator GANIL at the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). She became the first woman to head the Société Française de Physique. She was also chairwoman of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP)'s comission on nuclear physics.

Early life and education Henriette Faraggi was born on 26 November 1915 in Paris as the daughter of the engineer Ernest Faraggi (born in Saloniki during the Turkish era) and his wife Fortunée Simon, a Turkish Jew from Constantinople. Henriette was the second of the family's three children.

Initially interested in studying literature, she became interested in studying science at secondary school, preparing for the baccalaureate. She was in a philosophy class which covered elements of physics when she was inspired by the teacher, a "remarkable woman", who introduced her to the beauty of natural phemomena.

Faraggi studied for a Bachelor’s degree in Science Education at the Sorbonne, and prepared to take the agrégation examination in physics which was required to become a teacher. For this she needed to undertake a “Diplôme d’Enseignement Supérieur”, an introduction to research, through a year placement in a laboratory. She did her placement in 1936-1937 at the Physics Research Laboratory, headed by physicist Aimé Cotton. This convinced her that she wanted a career in scientific research rather than teaching, but in 1938 she married and had a child before divorcing.

During World War II, she divorced and later recalled that there was no time for thinking about research. At the end of her time in office, she made a speech which concluded "if you find fault with some of my actions [...] in the past, don't say “it's because she's a woman”, but simply that I was not up to the task. And don't wait too long to call on other women to become president of our Society".

Faraggi was appointed head of the CEA's Nuclear Physics Department 1972, working in the role until 1978 when she was promoted to become CEA's overall director of research.

In 2026, Henriette Mathieu-Faraggi was announced as one of 72 historical women in STEM whose names have been proposed to be added to the 72 men already celebrated on the Eiffel Tower. The plan was announced by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo following the recommendations of a committee led by Isabelle Vauglin of Femmes et Sciences and Jean-François Martins, representing the operating company which runs the Eiffel Tower. Mesure précise de l'énergie des particules lourdes chargées de faible parcours par imprégnation d’émulsions photographiques