Once again, as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science approaches, 11th of February, activities and revindications will be carried out massively in a call for gender-equality in the scientific field. Progress is evident, yet women suffer huge drawbacks when facing a career in research. Each year, the scientific community loses creative and capable women, while, at the same time, young girls are also discouraged to start science-related studies.

CRAG will join this commemoration again this year, with activities focused on making visible the work and lives of female researchers. By means of storytelling and experience-sharing to help overcome common misconceptions young kids may have about research, some female CRAG researchers will share their stories in several primary and high schools of Catalonia thanks to the #100tífiques initiative. Through this action, organized by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI) and the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), with the collaboration of the Department of Education of the Generalitat de Catalunya, students throughout Catalonia can meet and have direct contact with researchers of very different fields.

The CRAG female scientists participating in the event this year are Natalia Achkar, Raquel Álvarez, Sílvia Fornalè, Antonela Lavatelli, Mani Deepika Mallavarapu, Clara Ontañon and Marta Pujol.

In addition, these days Sadako High School in Barcelona is hosting the photographic exhibition  Who Investigates Plants?, with the collaboration of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT)– Ministry of Science and Innovation. As a complementary activity to the exhibition and on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, CRAG postdoctoral researcher, Belén Moro, will give a talk at this high school explaining her scientific research, her hobbies and her personal journey from Argentina to Barcelona. This project, started by former CRAG researcher Michela Osnato, aims to promote a real and closer look to the researchers working in plant biology by bringing young their work and private lives to the classrooms.

CRAG is also sharing a series of digital postcards that collect advice that women at the research centre, ranging from principal investigator to technicians, would like to give to their younger selves.Thanks to all the participants!

With the collaboration of: