A vision for gender equity: the role of AMIT in driving a change
Breaking Barriers Together Seminar
Azucena Bardají, ISGlobal & Presidenta d'AMIT-Cat
Wednesday, 26 February 2025, 12:00 PM
ICMAB - Sala d'Actes Carles Miravitlles and ONLINE (Register here)
Abstract
AMIT (Asociación de Mujeres Investigadoras y Tecnólogas) is a Spanish association dedicated to promoting the visibility and empowerment of women in research, science, and technology. Founded in 2001, AMIT seeks to address the gender imbalance in these fields and advocate for greater participation of women in scientific and technological careers.
AMIT’s mission is to foster an inclusive scientific and technological environment that ensures gender equity. The association envisions a world where women researchers and technologists have equal opportunities for professional development, recognition, and leadership within their fields. AMIT's key objectives include, promoting gender equality in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, encouraging young women to pursue careers in STEM disciplines, advocating for policies that address gender disparities and improve the working conditions for women in these fields, and supporting the professional development of women through networking opportunities, training, and mentoring.
AMIT continues to play a vital role in advancing gender equality and empowering women in the fields of research and technology. It has successfully raised awareness about the challenges women face in STEM fields and has contributed to the development of policies that support gender parity. Additionally, AMIT has become a crucial platform for women researchers to share knowledge, experiences, and resources, significantly enhancing their visibility and professional networks. In this seminar, I will review the mission and vision of AMIT and progress made so far in advancing gender equality within the scientific and technological sectors.
Short bio
Azucena Bardají is a medical researcher at the Maternal, Child and Reproductive Health Programme at ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health). Her research interests have been directed over the last 22 years towards diseases affecting the most vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries and linked to poverty-related diseases.
Her main areas of work have been malaria in pregnancy; with emphasis on understanding the burden and impact of Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, the physiopathological mechanisms involved on malaria infection in the placenta, and the evaluation of preventive strategies in African pregnant women.
Her work expands to vaccine research in pregnant women and infants; including the understanding of the burden of diseases preventable through maternal immunization (e.g.respiratory syncytial virus, group B Streptococcus, influenza and pertussis), the evaluation of new maternal vaccine candidates in low-income settings, as well as the factors determining acceptance and successful introduction of maternal immunization strategies in these areas.
She teaches at different post-graduate and PhD programs in the field of Global Health at the University of Barcelona (UB), including course development, lectures and student mentorship. Currently, she serves as the president of AMIT (Asociación de Mujeres Investigadoras y Tecnólogas) in Catalonia.
You can also check her appearence in the public catalan channel 3cat programme Les Dones i els Dies. Dones científiques: "Moltes dones abandonen la investigació per l'ego masculí", in occasion of the 11-F.