Through Fundación PONS, PONS IP has joined in the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 to achieve full and equal participation of women and girls in science, as well as to achieve gender equality and promote scientific vocations and innovative spirit among girls, encouraging them to choose STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines.
The purpose of this morning was to call a meeting with professional women who specialize in STEM disciplines, in order to prove how studies in STEM disciplines are fundamental for leading tomorrow’s careers in the new era of the so-called 4th Industrial Revolution linked to equality between men and women in the field of digital transformation.
The day consisted of several workshops on technological innovation and new careers that were aimed at groups of 1st year high school students, with the goal of breaking down the gender prejudices and stereotypes that have led only 30% of girls to enroll in STEM courses compared to the 70% of boys, according to UNESCO data.
The workshops and debates were compered by Yolanda Palomino, journalist and youth talent promoter. Later on, under the title ‘The new careers under debate’, a round table was held comprising Begoña Garcia, biochemist at the Complutense University; María P. Pereira, winner of the 34th Math Olympiad, the first woman to be distinguished by the Royal Spanish Mathematical Society with the José Luis Rubio of France Award in 2012; Ángela Ribeiro, Deputy Vice President of Knowledge Transfer of the CSIC and Scientific Researcher of the Center for Automation and Robotics; Elena García, a Spanish engineer who heads the group that has developed the world’s first bionic exoskeleton for children, Hipatia-Mujeres en la Ciencia 2019 Award winner for a Career in Science; Clara Gómez, industrial engineer and businesswoman, who is passionate about engineering and production, and who, at under 30 years of age, is the Executive Director of 3D Surgical Technologies S.L.; and Alai Blanco, winner last March of the European digital girl of the year at the Ada Awards.
