#100tífiques: Women researchers come together to promote scientific vocation in young students

by Joana Pi Suñer

As February 11, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, approaches, a few related initiatives and events are taking place. The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and the Catalan Foundation for Research & Innovation (FCRI) are organizing the 4rth edition of the #100tífiques programme. This year’s edition opened up with a Networking Meet-up, held at the Paranimf of the University of Barcelona on February 4.

Almost half of the 472 women researchers and technologists participating in this year's edition of the #100tífiques initiative gathered on February 4 at the Paranimf of the University of Barcelona to network and launch the campaign. In this event, organized by the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació (FCRI) and the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), in collaboration with the Catalan Government’s Department of Education, the role of women in science and the barriers that still exist due to gender stereotypes were discussed. #100tífiques aims to bring science closer to the school by highlighting the contribution of women to science and technology, while creating new female role models capable of inspiring both girls and boys.

After two years of fully virtual modality, this 4th edition was held in person. The event, which lasted almost 3 hours, opened up with few institutional speeches on the position of women in science and gender issues in science, given by the Rector of the University of Barcelona, Joan Garcia, BIST President Andreu Mas-Colell, Catalan Minister for Education Josep González-Cambray, and Catalan Minister for Research and Universities and President of the FCRI Gemma Geis. They all stated that their institutions are committed to fostering women’s talent. Minister Geis also announced that the next call for support to research groups will positively discriminate the projects led by female researchers, as a response to the need of making scientific talent of women more visible, in line with the European Commission and the European Research Council. She concluded with an inspiring quote by Marie Curie: “I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done”.

A presentation of the #100tífiques 2022 initiative followed. “#100tífiques contributes to raising the proportion of women in Catalonia’s scientific talent pool to 50%, and simultaneously provides a space for women in the public and private research communities to interact, network, and collaborate, strengthening their leadership and professional careers,“ said Susaina Figuera, Head of Innovation Projects at the FCRI. She pointed out that currently the number of women scientists in leadership positions is only 20%, a situation that needs to be addressed. “Working to increase the visibility and recognition of women researchers is not just a question of gender equity and social justice. More women in scientific leadership positions will lead to richer and more diverse science since different visions yield diverse results and respond better to society’s global challenges,” added Núria Bayó Puxan, Director of Programmes at BIST.

Then the floor was given to Prof. Carme Junyent, from the University of Barcelona, who gave an interesting lecture about "Gender and Language", discussing the limitations of “inclusive” language, and highlighting the importance of changing reality. In the panel discussion, moderated by journalist Núria Jar, UPC professor and president of the Catalan Society of Technology Núria Salan and entrepreneur (Fibracat TV) and social activist Meritxell Bautista explained the difficulties women face in getting their work recognised in traditionally male-dominated environments.

Finally, the Hypatia I mission was introduces. Five members of the crew (Carla Conejo, Ariadna Farrés, Laia Ribas, Núria Jar, and Anna Bach) explained why they decided to launch an all-women expedition – made up of Catalan researchers and science communicators – to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah (USA).

Watch here the full event.

About the #100tífiques initiative

#100tífiques aims not only to bring scientific research closer to young students, by organising talks in schools throughout Catalonia on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11), but above all to create women role models that will inspire girls to take up STEM careers (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). In general, the programme aims to foster greater awareness among citizens of how science contributes to society and of the role women have in this field. From the ICN2, 6 researchers will participate giving talks in different schools: Rosa Maria González, Regina Galcerán, Neus Bastús, Jessica Cassandra Ramirez, Belén Ballesteros and Marta González. We congratulate all the participants for their important role in this initiative. Good luck for your talks.

The #100tífiques programme has grown from 115 women researchers and 103 schools in its first edition in 2019 to more than 450 women scientists and technologists and more than 400 schools in its third (held exclusively online in 2021) and fourth editions. This growth has led to a five-fold multiplication of the programme’s social impact. In 2019, the #100tífiques talks reached 6,500 girls and boys, while in 2021 the audience exceeded 34,000 students from the 6th grade of primary school to 1st year of ESO, a figure that is expected to be matched in this year’s edition.