Once again, women researchers from the Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale (IIBM), a joint center of the CSIC y la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, are taking part in the celebration of February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, with a wide range of outreach activities aimed at students of all ages and the general public.
Through this participation, the IIBM reinforces its commitment to highlighting the role of women in science, promoting equality, and encouraging scientific vocations, especially among girls and young women, once again joining the #TodasHacemosCiencia campaign.
Among the highlights this year is the traditional scientific tour at the IIBM, which will allow 11th-grade students from IES Jorge Manrique to experience firsthand how biomedical research is carried out. Under the title “Bioimaging Techniques in Biomedical Research”, the visit will be coordinated by Pilar López and Belén Peral, together with Teresa Navarro and Patricia Sánchez from the Servicio de RMN Biomédica Sebastián Cerdán, and Mónica Martín Belinchón and Bárbara Acosta from the Servicio de Microscopía Óptica y Confocal, showcasing cutting-edge technologies used in biomedical research.
The program also includes activities open within the institute itself. The IIBM Equality Committee has organized a screening of the documentary Prometeas, which explores the role of women in science through cinema, followed by a short discussion session. The event will take place on February 11 at 4:30 p.m. in the Gabriella Morreale Auditorium at the IIBM.
Outreach activities will also move beyond the lab to connect with society in different settings. Ana Guadaño, Soledad Bárez, and Beatriz Muñoz Falder are organizing a new edition of the event “Cheers to Women in Neuroscience”, an initiative that combines science and conversation in a relaxed atmosphere. Under the title “A Journey into the Brain and Memory: From Development to Disease”, attendees will have the opportunity to explore neuroscience with women researchers at the Mirador del Arco de Cuchilleros in central Madrid.
In addition, Cristina Rodríguez Antona will participate in the Sci Women Party, organized by the Unidad de Cultura Científica y de la Innovación of the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos at its Móstoles campus. This initiative creates a participatory space for dialogue and reflection on the role of women in science, built on personal experiences and testimonials aimed at highlighting female role models, breaking gender stereotypes, and encouraging scientific vocations among girls and young women.
Talks in schools once again represent a cornerstone of the IIBM’s #11F activities. Researchers from the institute will visit schools across different regions to discuss health, environmental issues, cancer, neuroscience, nutrition, and the history of science. Pilar Santisteban will address the impact of environmental pollutants, plastics, and microplastics on our health; María Alieva will introduce elementary school students to the legacy of women “computers”; Isabel Lastres will explain advances and challenges in ALS research; and Marina Lasa will share her personal journey in science with high school students.
Younger students will also take part through hands-on workshops such as “Take Your DNA Home!”, led by Soledad Bárez López and Isobel Dumont, where students will learn science through direct experimentation.
In addition, researchers such as Alicia González Martín, María J. García Pérez, and Belén Peral will participate in initiatives organized by associations, parent groups, and schools, expanding the reach of #11F beyond classrooms and strengthening connections between science and society.
With this broad program, IIBM women scientists aim to bring biomedical research closer to the public, break stereotypes, and pay tribute both to the women currently leading scientific projects and to those who paved the way. Science is built on talent, diversity, and vocation, and #11F offers a valuable opportunity to highlight this.