Tecnun and Ceit ratify their commitment in the project Emakumeak Zientzian

Thirty-two Basque entities have joined forces around the project Emakumeak Zientziangoal with the aim of making the activity of women in science visible and promoting the choice of scientific careers among girls and teenagers. In this sense, Tecnunthe School of Engineering of the University of Navarra and CeitThe School of Engineering of the University of Navarra and the University of Navarra, join in the organization of a program of activities on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is celebrated every year on February 11.

In addition to fulfilling the main objectives of the initiative, the project Emakumeak Zientzian makes a deep reflection to advance in a necessary change of scenery of the scientific-technological panorama. Thus, this year "we want to emphasize that people in the scientific-technological field are still people with their needs, their passions, their commitments and their hobbies", says the organization of Emakumeak Zientzian. In the field of science, as in so many others, today there is a demand to change the standards of excellence and the idea that professional vocation leaves little time to devote to family, leisure or development staff . All of this will be captured in a video of character staff. "We are going to launch a campaign starring different people from the scientific-technological field, and we have put the focus on their lives beyond science. We don't want superheroines who achieve everything, nor do we want them to give up their lives to achieve success. These are real lives that try to achieve balance in the different stages of a professional career," they add.

The programming of Emakumeak Zientzian 2024 will be concentrated in the week of February 8 to 16. An extensive program of more than 60 activities has been designed, covering for the first time the three historical territories, since the capital of Alava is incorporated as the setting for some of the events in this new edition so that the message 'science is for girls' reaches and permeates the largest possible issue of people. "We want to make a special appeal and invite all people, regardless of gender, identity, origin, profession or age, to participate in the activities," said the organizers of Emakumeak Zientzian.

To warm up the engines, this year Emakumeak Zientzian will kick off in a festive atmosphere on Thursday, February 8, in Donostia, where the aforementioned video will be presented, more testimonies will be shared and all the volunteers, as well as the institutional representation, will meet. 

From that day on, there will be activities open to the public of all ages in Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia and Alava For the general public, Donostia, Bilbao and Gasteiz will host the event. Women scientists of yesterday and todayin which several women scientists working in different fields of research will take the stage to talk about their research projects and also pay tribute to some of the great women scientists of history by telling the story of their fascinating lives and scientific contributions. In addition to the usual student visits to research centers and specific workshops for teenagers, this year we will repeat the experience of the Back to SchoolThis year, more than 60 female researchers will go to the classrooms of educational centers to talk about their experiences and thus contribute to awaken the scientific vocation among the student body. Likewise, specific groups, such as women over 55 years of age, will continue to be targeted to highlight the role of adult women as transmitters of culture. The Power of Experienceseven research centers will open their doors to present their research through a series of short experiments that are easy to do anywhere, in order to bring scientific culture closer to families and our environment. There will also be round tables, some aimed at the scientific and technological community, and other more open, for younger people, to delve into entrepreneurship and meet female engineers.

The 32 entities that participate in the 8th edition of the Emakumeak Zientzian are a representative sample of the science and technology fabric in the Basque Country: Achúcarro, BCMaterials, the Center for Materials Physics (CFM CSIC-UPV/EHU), CIC biomaGUNE, University of Deusto, UPV/EHU Informática, UPV/EHU Chemistry, Aranzadi Zientzia Elkartea, Basque Artifcial Intelligence Center (BAIC), Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (BCAM), Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), BioBizkaia, Biodonostia, Ceit, CIC energiGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, Cidetec, Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Elhuyar, Eureka! Zientzia Museoa-Kutxa Fundazioa, Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia (FBB), Ikerlan, Ingeniariak-Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros Industriales de Gipuzkoa, Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa (MEGP), Mubil, Parques Tecnológicos de Euskadi, POLYMAT, Tecnalia, Tecnun, UPV/EHU Ingenieros and Vicomtech.

Emakumeak Zientzian 2024 has the outstanding support of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Fomento San Sebastián, the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA) and Salto, as well as the collaboration of the following entities and organizations: committee Superior Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the State Research Agency through the Severo Ochoa and María de Maeztu centers adhered to the initiative, the Basque Film Library and the San Sebastian International Film Festival, Donostia Kultura, Emakunde, the network Lemniskata, Ikerbasque, Aspegi (association de Mujeres Profesionales, Empresarias y Directivas de Gipuzkoa), Biook, Skills4Science, the Directorate of Equality of the UPV/EHU and Casio.