The World Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated every February 11, since it was proclaimed in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly. This day calls for a real change in the situation of women in the world of science, in all aspects.
Areas such as research are not exempt from gender inequality: only 19% of research projects with Catalan participation and funding from the European Research Council are led by women researchers integrated into the Catalan knowledge system, according to the latest report prepared by the Agency for the Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR). with data from November 2020.
It is not a unique situation in our territory, the European average is only slightly higher than the Catalan average, with 23% of women leading research projects. These facts make it essential to continue moving forward with the implementation of equality policies and with the idea of showing younger girls that science and research can also be a space for them.
Another fact to highlight is the famous glass ceiling that the world of health suffers. And the fact is that, although globally 80% of professionals in this field are women, they only occupy 20% of the positions where decisions are made.
Women make up less than 50% of enrolments in so-called STEM or scientific careers. That is why it is very important to revendicate female talent and motivate future generations to train in specializations of this type.
What is the discovery that a professional in this field dreams of making? We have asked some of the women scientists who are part of the IISPV team these questions, and we have collected them in different posts published on social networks. It is a tribute to their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to science, following the celebration, on February 11, of the World Day of Women and Girls in Science. Here are some of the statements made by the women scientists of the IISPV:
Margarita Torrente Torné (Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health -TECNATOX-): “I would like to find a cure for dementia and put an end to the suffering of so many patients and their families.”
Mayte Fernández García: (Genetics and Environment in Psychiatry -GAP-): “I would like to improve the applicability of genetic tests to psychiatry.”
Indira Paz Graniel (Food, Nutrition, Development and Mental Health -ANUT-DSM-): “I would like to discover how lifestyle factors can modulate the risk of glaucoma, using omics sciences and epigenetics.”
Raquel Cumeras (Oncological, Translational, Epidemiological and Clinical Research Group -GIOTEC-): “I would like to discover biomarkers for colorectal, breast and lymphoma cancer, which can be assimilated in clinical practice, thus revolutionizing their diagnosis and treatment.”
Mahsa Naghavi Sheikholeslami (Environmental Toxicology and Metabolomics -PEDINUR-): “As a data scientist in the age of artificial intelligence, I aspire to discover innovative algorithms that will revolutionize omics studies, unlocking the mysteries of life at the molecular level.”
Camilla Guerrini (Environmental Toxicology and Metabolomics -PEDINUR-): “I would like to discover the biochemical mechanisms of epigenetic and metabolic changes in children caused by the chemical exosome and possible future health outcomes.”
Maria Repollés de Dalmau (Research Group in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases -DIAMET-): “I would like to discover biomarkers that can help improve the knowledge and treatment of metabolic diseases”.
Gisel Montoya Aguirre (Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience -NeuroÈpia-): “As a physician in the area of neuroscience, I would like to investigate possible early interventions to optimize and improve the neurological health of the neonatal.”
Elena González Fernández (Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience -NeuroÈpia-): “Science is curiosity, knowledge, a desire to improve… You start from a formula to evolve, to give the highest quality in what we do”.
Vanesa Rius Costa (Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience -NeuroÈpia-): “As a nurse scientist I would like to discover a mechanism that nullifies artifacts in neurophysiological tests.”
Susana Larrosa Capaces (Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience -NeuroÈpia-): “As a neonatologist, I would like aEEG to be integrated into the usual motorization of sick babies.”
Montse Rosselló Foguet (Clinical and Epidemiological Neuroscience -NeuroÈpia-): “I would like to discover new indicators through neurophysiological techniques that allow the premature identification of neurodegenerative disorders, thus giving the option of early treatment to improve the quality of life of patients”.