This Friday is International Women’s Day, a global initiative celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and promoting gender equality. This year’s campaign theme is #BalanceforBetter. In honour of International Women’s Day, we bring you five Italian women who have made their mark on the world in their own unique way.

Rita Levi-Montalcini was an Italian Nobel laureate, celebrated for her work in neurobiology. More importantly, she was a strong woman who changed the world. Levi-Montalcini was awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with her colleague Stanley Cohen for the discovery of nerve growth factor (NGF). From 2001 until her death, she also served in the Italian Senate as a Senator for Life - an honour that was bestowed for her significant scientific contributions.