ICN2 joins the celebrations of this year’s “International Day of Women and Girls in Science”

by Joana Pi Suñer

The ICN2 is involved in a series of initiatives to support this day to raise awareness of the persistent gender gap un the world of research. Some ICN2 women researchers will participate in “100tífiques” to bring science and the role of women in Science closer to young students.

“Women and girls represent half of the world's population and, therefore also half of its potential. Gender equality, besides being a fundamental right, is essential to achieve peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development. Moreover, it has been shown that empowering women spurs productivity and economic growth. Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality of rights and opportunities between men and women." warns an United Nations’ article.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science was established in 2016 by the United Nations to raise awareness of the persistent gender gap in the world of research. According to them, long standing biases and gender stereotypes are still keeping girls and women away from scientific fields. As of today, only 30% of researchers worldwide are women. During this week, worldwide research centres, schools, museums and other organize events to approach science to children breaking this stereotypes. This year, ICN2 joins the movement with various commemorative activities and initiatives guided by the Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), CSIC and other.

Among many activities, “100tífiques" is one of the central actions involving the ICN2, the BIST centres and the other Catalan research intitutions to bring science and the role of women researchers closer to young students. This initiative led by the BIST, the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRi) and the Education Department of the “Generalitat de Catalunya” (Catalan Government) will bring remotely more than 350 women researchers to secondary schools, to bring science and promote a real image of a scientist, breaking stereotypes and motivating young girls to pursue their scientific dreams.

The ICN2 personnel is involved in promoting these activities linked to the educational community, with more than 10 researchers such as:

Dr. Adriana Figueroa, Postdoctoral Researcher at the ICN2 Physics and Engineering of Nanodevices group,
Dr. Belén Ballesteros, head of the ICN2 Electron Microscopy Unit,
Dr. Gisela Ruiz Vega, Postdoctoral Researcher at the ICN2 Nanobiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications group,
Ivana Cavaliere, Doctoral Student (PhD) at the ICN2 Nanostructured Functional Materials group,
Marianna Sledkinska, Research Engineer at the Phononic and Photonic Nanostructures group,
Marta Delgà Fernández, Doctoral Student (PhD) at the ICN2 Advanced Electronic Materials and Devices group,
Dr. Neus Gómez Bastús, Senior Researcher at the ICN2 Inorganic Nanoparticles group,
Dr. Neus Domingo, Senior Researcher at the ICN2 Oxide Nanophysics group,
Dr. Regina Galceran, Postdoctoral Researcher at the ICN2 Physics and Engineering of Nanodevices Group,
Dr. Sara Goberna, Postdoctoral Researcher, and Marta Perxés, visitant Doctoral Student both at the ICN2 Novel Energy-Oriented Materials Group,
Dr. Sonia Ruiz Raga, Senior Researcher at the ICN2 Nanoestructured Materials for Photovoltaic Energy Group,

In the context of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, L’Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" programme has awarded 5 prizes to projects developped by Spanish researchers under the age of 40. Dr. Sonia Ruiz Raga, who recently joined the ICN2 through the "laCaixa" Junior Leaders, was one of the Awardees of this year's programme and dreams about creating a product to generate renewable energy, commercializing it and seeing it used on everyday life. Click here to read more about it.

The Ministry of Science and Innovation, through its Women and Science Unit and in collaboration with the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), wants to give visibility to Spanish scientists and innovators recognized nationally and internationally this 2020 with this web platform. All of them stand out for their important scientific-technical work in their different disciplines and are a reference for the new generations of young researchers. Prof. Laura Lechuga, Group Leader of the ICN2 Nanobiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications group, is one of these women researchers of 2020 that inspire the scientific world, principally by the many prizes she received this year.

Among the long list of actions taking place this week today, we would like to also highlight:

º AMIT-CAT ( “Asociación de Mujeres Investigadoras I Tecnologas” or Women technologists and Researchers association in English) “I Conference of Women in Science” http://www.amit-cat.org/. Prof. Laura Lechuga, Group Leader of the ICN2 Nanobiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications group, was envited to a round table today February 8th. Please, see the talk called “Science, leadership and entrepreneurship” by Laura Lechuga in streaming on youtube.

º The European Parliament Office together with AMIT, will broadcast the #NoMoreMatildas campaign with the participation of members of the Government an the protagonists of the campaign, the morning of February 8th. Click here to watch the campaign launch.

º Monday Feb 8th: The presentation of the Documentary: “Picture a Scientist” by FECYT. On Thursday February 11th at 12h a discussion will be broadcast live through the FECYT YouTube channel on the documentary and the situation of women in science, the barriers they face and the areas actions necessary to promote gender equality. https://www.fecyt.es/es/noticia/fecyt-emite-el-documental-picture-scientist-para-conmemorar-el-dia-internacional-de-la-mujer.

º Thursday Feb 11th: "ICFOnians for Women in Science Month" Visit the full programme over one month with activities designed to allow us to contemplate and celebrate women's accomplishments as well as examine the current reality for women pursing scientific careers. https://www.icfo.eu/calendar2?event=4927

º Thursday Feb 11th: ICMAB Gender Equality Commitee organizes two online Conferences in the framework of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science: "Emmy Noether and the power of abstraction in Mathematics" (click here to register), and “League of Women Scientist” an online game to see what you know about women scientist of our history, of gender equality at ICMAB and some more curiosities. (click here to register).

And more!! You can find more information on : https://11defebrero.org/