María Yzuel

Yzuel was born in Jaca.[1] She studied physical sciences at the University of Zaragoza, from which she graduated in 1962. She remained there for her doctoral studies, and competed her PhD in 1966.[2] In 1987 Yzuel was awarded a grant from the British Council to travel to the University of Reading. She was the only woman to earn this award and worked under the supervision of Harold Hopkins.[3][4]

In 1971, Yzuel was appointed to the University of Zaragoza, where she was the first woman in Spain to become a professor in physics.[5] In 1983, Yzuel joined the Autonomous University of Barcelona.[6] Yzuel was the first woman to serve as president of the Spanish Optical Society in 1993.[3] She was secretary general of the European Optical Society in 1996.[7]

Yzuel worked on various optical systems as well as optical processing of information. She has demonstrated and developed spatial light modulators for diffractive elements.[8] She retired in 2011, and remains at the Autonomous University of Barcelona as an emeritus professor.[9] She serves on the International Scientific Council of the South Ural State University.[9]

Yzuel is committed to diversity in physics and supports many initiatives that champion women scientists.[10] She has been involved with the SPIE Women in Optics program as well as the Association of Women Researchers and Technologists.[11][12] She founded the women in physics section of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics.[13]

Yzuel is a Fellow of The Optical Society, the European Optical Society, and SPIE, and she is a Senior Academician of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona.[14][15][16]

Her other awards and honours include:

• 2005 SPIE Director's Award[17]
• 2005 University of Warsaw Medal[18]
• 2009 President of SPIE[19][5]
• 2012 Miguel Hernández University of Elche Honorary Doctorate[20]
• 2013 Civil Order of Alfonso X, the Wise[21]
• 2014 Medal of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics[2][22]
• 2015 President of the Spanish Committee for the celebration of the International Year of Light[23][24]
• 2017 University of Alicante Gender Equality Award (igUABlitat prize)[3][13]
• 2017 University of Granada Honorary Doctorate [25]
• 2021 SPIE President's Award[26]

SPIE have offered a Maria J. Yzuel Educator Award in honour of Yzuel since 2003.[27] In 2018, the Walqa Technology Park honoured Yzuel by naming one of their buildings after her.[28] In 2019, The Institute of Photonic Sciences announced the Maria Yzuel Fellowship Awards for women undergraduate and postgraduate students.[29]