The Institute of Optics on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 11F

The IO-CSIC researchers have participated as every year in the celebration of 11F with numerous talks and visits to educational centers where they have spoken about the access and full and equal participation of women and girls in science and technology.

– A collaboration of 6 scientists from the institutes of Cajal Institute, Institute of the Structure of Matter, Institute of Fundamental Physics, Institute of Optics and Institute of Physical Chemistry Rocasolano have given lectures aimed at girls and boys between the ages of 14 and 16, at various Secondary Education Institutes in Madrid, as well as at the Museum of Natural Sciences and at the Museum of Science and Technology. More information about this initiative at atreveteasercientifica.csic.es

– Researchers Amal Zaytouny El Mthiwi, Lupe Villegas López, Raquel Fernández de Cabo and Inés Cáceres Pablo from the dissemination group IOPTICA went to the IES Cervantes in Madrid on February 8 to carry out optical experiments such as those that can be seen on this Ciudad Ciencia.

IOSA is the OSA-EPS student section at the Instituto de Óptica made up of young researchers, pre- and post-doctoral students, actively involved in broadening our knowledge of Optics, as well as spreading the Science of Optics oriented to the general public.

– Finally, the Laser Processing Group went to the IES Blas de Otero to share their experiences in investigation.
For them they did experiments with light and gave the talk “We are researchers.”

Science and gender equality are vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
In recent decades, the international community has made a great effort to inspire and promote the participation of women and girls in science. However, women continue to find obstacles to function in the field of science.

Did you know…?

Women tend to receive more modest research grants than their male colleagues and, although they represent 33.3% of all researchers, only 12% of members of national scientific academies are women.
In cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence, where only one in five professionals (22%) is a woman.
Despite skills shortages in most technology fields driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women still make up just 28% of engineering graduates and 40% of computer science graduates
Female researchers tend to have shorter careers and lower pay. Their work is underrepresented in high-profile magazines and they are often overlooked for promotions.