ICN2, Committed to Acknowledging Female Researchers Through the Women Talent Programme

by Arlet Lozano Arenas

Since 2014, the ICN2 Equal Opportunities Committee has been dedicated to implementing and developing actions that promote gender-based fairness and inclusivity within the ICN2 community. The Women Talent Programme, occurring annually, is one among several other initiatives led by the Committee.

The ICN2 Equal Opportunities Committee organised an event to commemorate International Women’s Day, also serving as a celebration of the ICN2 Women Talent Programme. This initiative seeks to recognise and highlight the research endeavours of female scientists within ICN2. The event was intentionally scheduled for March 6, 2024—deliberately avoiding March 8, the designated date for the right to strike—. Attendees immersed themselves in networking opportunities, enlightening talks, talent showcases, and inspirational discussions. The agenda featured presentations from three recipients of the 2023 Women Talent Awards, who were invited to present their outstanding achievements in nanoscience and nanotechnology:

Women Talent Postdoc Grant 2023: Dr Muriel Freixanet with SAPHNA. “Novel Synthetic Strategies for Advanced Pt-Based Hollow Nanocrystals”
Women Talent Senior Grant 2023: Dr Maria Soler with DANCE. “Dielectric Nanophotonic Biosensors for Cell Studies”
Best Published Paper – PhD student Award 2023: Laura Hernández. “pH-Triggered Removal of Nitrogenous Organic Micropollutants from Water by Using Metal-Organic Polyhedra”

Following that, Carme Gómez, Margarita Navia, Muriel Freixanet, Maria Soler, and Laura Hernández participated in a round table, where they shared their diverse experiences and challenges they have encountered as women holding positions contributing to science throughout their professional careers. Their narratives inspired us all and underscored the ongoing need for efforts to achieve gender equity in both science and society.

At the culmination of the International Women’s Day Celebration, the 2024 Women Talent Awards ceremony took place. Supported by the Severo Ochoa funding, the prizes were conferred to the following powerful women:

Women Talent Senior Grant 2024: Dr Sonia Ruiz
Automated Multiplexed Impedance Spectroscopy with Artificial Intelligence data process for stability assessment of perovskite solar cells (AMISAI)
Women Talent Postdoc Grant 2024: Dr Roberta Farris
Thermal Properties of ALL-INorganic 2D perovskites (TP ALL-IN 2D)
Best Published Paper- PhD Student Award 2024: Marta Ruiz
Real-time microscopy of the relaxation of a glass
Best Published Paper- PostDoc Award 2024: Dr Sara Martí
Epitaxially Driven Phase Selectivity of Sn in Hybrid Quantum Nanowires
Best Published Thesis ex aequoAward 2024: Dr Ivana Cavaliere
Bioinspired and Biomimetic Micro/nanoparticles for Medical Applications
Best Published Thesis ex aequoAward 2024: Dr Ana Broto
Clip-off Chemistry Applied to the Synthesis of Rh(II)-based Complexes via Rational Cleavage of Metal-Organic-Polyhedra

To all of you, our role models, bravo for your remarkable accomplishments!