Emakumeak Zientzian, a life beyond is underway

Donostia-San Sebastian. 8 February, 2024. Around 150 people came to the Intxaurrondo Kultur Etxea this afternoon to mark the beginning of the 8th edition of the Emakumeak Zientzian initiative in a festive atmosphere, and to emphasize that people in the scientific and technological field are still people with their needs, their passions, their commitments and their hobbies. In addition, there was a video presentation starring different people from the scientific and technological field, focusing on their lives beyond science.

The actress Maitena Salinas was in charge of directing the event in a very pleasant atmosphere and the Emakumeak Zientzian coordination team was the first to take the floor with a brief introduction.

That was followed by a roundtable, moderated by Maria Luz Guenaga, lecturer at the University of Deusto and member of the Emakumeak Zientzian coordination team, with Marisol Garmendia, Councillor Delegate for the Economy, Local Employment and Ecology in Donostia-San Sebastian; Ane Insausti, Head of Economic Promotion of the Chartered Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa; Miren Elgarresta, Director of Emakunde (Basque Institute for Women); and Izaskun Artetxe, Technical Economic Secretary of the Department of Economic Promotion of the Chartered Provincial Council of Bizkaia. They all agreed that many steps have been taken in recent years, but stressed that we must continue to move forward with the main objective of achieving equal opportunities under the same conditions, i.e. that women have the same opportunities as men with the same qualifications.

Finally, the long-awaited moment arrived: the presentation of the video designed with the initiative in mind. A video featuring various people from the scientific and technological field focusing on their lives beyond science. “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 a professional vocation leaves little time to devote to family, leisure or personal development. We don't want super heroines who manage to do everything, nor do we want people to give up trying to achieve success. These are real lives trying to achieve a balance in the different stages of a professional career,” as the organizers of Emakumeak Zientzian highlighted.

The Emakumeak Zientzian 2024 program will be concentrated during the week from 8 to 16 February. An extensive program of more than 60 activities has been designed, covering, for the first time, all three provinces of the Basque Autonomous Community, since the capital of Alava is being incorporated as the setting for some of the events in this fresh edition, so that the message “science is girls' stuff” can reach as many people as possible and sink in. “We would like to make a special appeal and invite everyone, regardless of gender, identity, origin, profession or age to participate in the activities,” the Emakumeak Zientzian organizers said.

The full program of activities is available at www.emakumeakzientzian.eus

The 32 organizations involved in the 8th edition of Emakumeak Zientzian are a significant representative sample of the Basque Country’s science and technology base: Achúcarro, BCMaterials, the Center for Materials Physics (CFM CSIC-UPV/EHU), CIC biomaGUNE, University of Deusto, UPV/EHU Computing, UPV/EHU Chemistry, Aranzadi Scientific Society, the Basque Artificial 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 Foundation, Bizkaia Biophysics Foundation (FBB), Ikerlan, Ingeniariak-Professional Association of Industrial Engineers, Mondragon Faculty of Engineering (MEGP), Mubil, Technology Parks of Euskadi-Basque Country, POLYMAT, Tecnalia, Tecnun, UPV/EHU Engineers and Vicomtech.

Emakumeak Zientzian 2024 has the substantial support of the Chartered Provincial Councils of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, Fomento San Sebastián, the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA) and Salto, as well as the collaboration of the following bodies and organizations: the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the Spanish Research Agency through the Severo Ochoa and María de Maeztu centers as partners in the initiative, the Basque Film Library and the Donostia-San Sebastian International Film Festival, Donostia Kultura, Emakunde, the Lemniskata network, Ikerbasque, Aspegi (Association of Professional, Business and Managerial Women of Gipuzkoa), Biook, Skills4Science and the Directorate for Equality of the UPV/EHU and Casio.

Organizations coordinating Emakumeak Zientzian 2024
Achúcarro – Jaime Sagarduy-Barrena
BCMaterials – Daniel Bacigalupe Dorronsoro
Center for Materials Physics (CFM CSIC-UPV/EHU) – Idoia Mugika Mendiola
CIC biomaGUNE – Irantzu Llarena-Conde
University of Deusto – Mari Luz Guenaga-Gomez
UPV/EHU Informática – Olatz Arbelaitz Gallego
UPV/EHU Química – Oihane Sanz Iturralde