Outreach News

From February 11 to March 8: ICMAB’s commitment to gender equality in science

On February 11, ICMAB researchers participated in events related to the International Day of Girls and Women in Science. This day also marks the start of a series of activities at ICMAB taking place throughout February and leading up to March 8, International Women’s Day.

Celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science at ICMAB | Image by Míriam Rivera for the 11F campaign 11defebrero

In the days around February 11, several ICMAB researchers participated in activities designed to bring their research and experiences outside the center, aiming to inspire and challenge gender stereotypes while highlighting the talent of women in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). These activities were part of the International Day of Girls and Women in Science and focused on inspiring the next generation of researchers, especially by visiting educational centers.

Visits to schools

Various female researchers visited schools to give talks to students and answer to their questions, in an interactive format that brings researchers and their work closer to children:

Silvia Damerio (Postdoctoral Researcher at MULFOX) introduced her research to 6th-grade students at Can Llong School in Sabadell.

Sílvia Damerio in Can Llong School

Arántzazu González (Tenured Scientist at FunNanoSurf) visited Les Palmeres School in Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
Dolors Grillo (Talent Officer) gave a talk to 3rd-grade students at Maristes Sants-Les Corts High School in Barcelona.
Alexandra Harbuzaru (Postdoctoral Researcher at eMolMat) connected online with Xerta School in Tarragona.
Judit Morlà (Researcher at Nanomol-bio) visited Les Codinetes School in La Nou Gaià to disseminate her research.

Judit Morlà in Escola Les Codinetes

Alfonsina Torimtubun (Postdoctoral Researcher at NANOPTO) is visiting Salvador Vinyals School in Terrassa today, 12 February.

Most of these talks were part of the #cientifiques initiative, organized by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI) and the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST). In addition to organizing the talks and providing resources for researchers to communicate their work, the program also featured a meeting for #Científiques, a day of inspiration, training, and networking.

Clúster MAV round table

The two round tables held on February 11 at Palau Macaya, organized by the Clúster of Advanced Materials (Clúster MAV), addressed the topic of gender in science within industry, research centers, and universities. Esther Barrena (Tenured Scientist at the group Surfaces) participated in the event. A key starting point for the day was the idea that discussing women and science is ultimately about discussing talent and equality. We need to work towards a world where gender does not influence professional development, and it still does.

Esther Barrena (Surfaces) participating in the Clúster MAV round table

The topics discussed included balancing personal and professional life, the importance of diversity in shaping the future (e.g., technologies that fit diverse anatomical characteristics), different types of leadership, and positive discrimination. Esther Barrena shared her experiences living in different countries and reflected on how things have changed over the past 20 years, the challenges that remain regarding equal opportunities in scientific careers, and the work of the Gener Equality and Diversity Committee (CIGiD) at ICMAB.

Program Magnet

The week of February 11 also provided an opportunity for students from José Echegaray School, in partnership with ICMAB through the Magnet Program, to get closer to their mentors. Every class at José Echegaray has been assigned a mentor at ICMAB that suits their interest topic and this year they will work together. A year of collaboration allows to build a more personal relationship that also humanizes the relationship that students have with science. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science was seen as a good opportunity to strengthen this relationship:

I3 mentors at José Echegaray: Roberta Ceravola and Anna Crespi

ICMAB’s Participation in the Wikimarathon

ICMAB also participated in the 8th edition of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science Edit-a-thon, organized by PRBB, in collaboration with Amical Wikimedia and Viquidones UPF. The event began with a talk on the importance of Wikipedia as a high-quality, free encyclopedia that provides global access to knowledge. The collaborative, altruistic nature of Wikipedia was emphasized, highlighting its ability to offer knowledge in 341 languages, including minority or marginalized ones.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science edit-a-thon at PRBB

During the edit-a-thon, participants focused on editing articles about female researchers. The main goal of this activity is to increase the visibility of women scientists on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects, helping to reverse the historical discrimination they have faced. How many ICMAB researchers are currently in the Catalan Viquipèdia?

11F-8M at ICMAB

By participating in activities around these dates, we aim to raise awareness of gender inequalities in scientific research and society as a whole. The following activities (check out the programme here) at ICMAB will be:

Presentation of the ICMAB Equality and Inclusion Action Plan by Lourdes Fàbrega, vice-director and coordinator of the Committee on Gender Equality and Diversity (CIGiD) on February 19. The key goals and concrete actions of the plan will be presented, with the participation of the team that developed it.
Seminar "Breaking Barriers Together: A Vision for Gender Equity" by Azucena Bardají (ISGLOBAL and AMIT-CAT) on February 26.
Round table "Early Stage Researchers: Road Ahead with a Gender Perspective". A discussion on the challenges and opportunities in research from a gender perspective with Early Stage Researchers that will end with a cookies and conversation session on March 7.
Seminar "Why Do Gender Gaps in the Labour Market Persist?" by Lídia Farré (IAE, CSIC) on March 10.

These initiatives at ICMAB are integrated into a series of actions at various levels. Both institutional changes and continued advocacy for a more inclusive and diverse science are necessary. Gender equality in science should be pursued, on February 11 and beyond.

Anna Drou

12 February 2025