February 11th 2020
February 11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and from IFCA, continuing with our commitment to equal opportunities between men and women, we organize every year a program of events that includes different initiatives. These activities seek to contribute to the elimination of discrimination and gender bias in the scientific field.
Presence of women in certain scientific careers, such as the physical sciences, is still far lower than that of men and, despite the fact that number of women in scientific positions has increased, the proportion of women professors in research is still somewhat far from half. That is why initiatives to encourage scientific vocations among girls and to highlight the work of women in science are important.
This year we prepare more calls that include, as usual, the celebration of the III IFCA comic contest and a series of talks at Ateneo de Santander.
III IFCA Comic Contest: "Women scientists working for environment"
Echoing the latest publications on the greatest environmental threat facing humanity, theme will revolve around women scientists who have dedicated their research and work to the environment and climate. The comics will be exhibited in Science Faculty of the Universidad de Cantabria from February 10th to 21st. A jury composed of representatives of IFCA and experts in comic world will evaluate all works and select the best one. We will announce the result of decision on Friday 14th February and whoever wins competition will have the opportunity to visit IFCA in Cantabria, with people who work there during a morning in which they will visit laboratories, the supercomputer or the rooftop telescopes. In addition, group of finalists will be able to present their own comics at Santander Book Fair!
Series of talks 'We: Science, Technology and Innovation' at Ateneo de Santander
As last year, during three Tuesdays in February (starting, precisely, on the 11th) we will have talks of three renowned scientists at Ateneo de Santander. Talks will begin at 19:30 and will discuss scientific work that is being done to advance our societies and achieve a better world. Many women are participating and collaborating in this important work and are dedicating their efforts to promoting science, technology and innovation.
- February 11 - Olga Martín-Belloso: "New technologies for food preservation".
Presentation by Olga M. Sánchez, Professor of Philosophy of Law at Universidad de Cantabria (UC)
- February 18 - Marián Sánchez Calderón: "Sanctuary Method as cognitive training".
Presentation by Rocío Vilar, Deputy Director of Instituto de Física de Cantabria
- February 25 - Maria Sierra: "Present, Past and Future of Parkinson's".
Presentation by Carmen Sarabia, professor of University School of Nursing of the UC
Exhibition 'Women of Science' by the illustrator Isabel Ruiz Ruiz at Casa de Cultura in Torrelavega
We have grown up associating science with male names, ignoring most of the women who have made history in this field. For this reason, and with the aim of making figure of women in science visible throughout the history of humanity and thus favouring equality and knowledge, the Institute de Física de Cantabria brings to House of Culture in Torrelavega the exhibition 'Women of Science', by the artist Isabel Ruiz Ruiz, offered by bookstore 'La Pantera Rossa' in Zaragoza.
The exhibition can be visited from 17h to 21h at the Casa de Cultura of Torrelavega from 17 to 28 February. This graphic exhibition of 16 historical women scientists is supported by initiative 11 February, which commemorates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. In addition, exhibition has an educational innovation: each illustration includes a QR code that helps to go through the exhibition of women scientists in an enjoyable and didactic way, getting to know history of each one of them thanks to special collaboration of young women researchers in science who give floor to 16 historical women scientists.
On Monday 17 February the opening will take place in the Casa de Cultura in Torrelavega and at 19:30 in the assembly hall illustrator Isabel Ruiz Ruiz will make the presentation of exhibition and a public visit. On Tuesday 18 author will be at 19:30 in Bookstore La Vorágine in Santander to, in addition to presenting exhibition 'Women of Science', treat the theme of Women in history through its collection 'Women'. On Monday 24 February, back in Torrelavega, we invite you to "On the Shoulders of Giants" conference, that our fellow IFCA researchers, Maite Ceballos and Alicia Calderón, will give at 19:30 in Casa de Cultura'S auditorium.
Game day: "Know them playing"
https://web.unican.es/unidades/cultura-cientifica/actividades/dia-internacional-de-la-mujer-y-la-nina-en-la-ciencia-(11-February)
"Chat with an Astronomer"
On February 20, from 10 am to 10 pm (Iberian Peninsula time), the third edition of "Chat with an Astronomer" activity will take place, organized by the Women and Astronomy Committee of Spanish Astronomical Society, within framework of February 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Silvia Martínez Núñez, from the Instituto de Física in Cantabria, will be part of the team of 57 Spanish astrophysicists or those working in Spain who will be available to chat about their research, their experience as women scientists, their research careers or general astronomy topics.
Main objective of "Chat with an Astronomer" is to bring today's science closer to general public through its female protagonists, thus giving visibility to their presence and relevance. "Chat with an Astronomer" is a unique outreach activity because it is available to anyone with an Internet connection, regardless of how remote their location is, and because it provides a direct and private platform for conversation between professional astrophysicists and general public.
https://www.sea-astronomia.es/comision-mujer-y-astronomia-11-de-febrero#chat
February Scientific Coffee
The 'Café Científico' is an activity that takes place every last Friday of the month at 20:30 in Café de las Artes (Calle de García Morato, 4, Santander), from September to June. It consists of popular science discussions on various areas of study conducted by renowned researchers. In next Scientific Café in February, person in charge of telling us about her work will be Mar Marcos, professor of Ancient History at Universidad de Cantabria, specialist in History of Rome in Late Antiquity and History of Religions in the Ancient Mediterranean. The title of her talk is: "Why monotheists do not love women".
Mar is currently the director of the PhD school at Universidad de Cantabria and vice-president of Spanish Conference of PhD School Directors (CDED). She is also president of Spanish Society of Sciences of Religions (SECR) and vice-president of International Association for History of Religions (IAHR). She has also been Director of Department of Historical Sciences and Director of Area of Equality and Social Responsibility at Universidad de Cantabria (UC). She coordinates Area of History and Art in the National Agency of Evaluation and Prospective, and is a very good disseminator who has already participated in several initiatives with monologues and conferences. It is a luxury to have her in our Scientific Café!
Moreover, during whole month there will be talks by IFCA researchers in educational centres in the programme of 'Expanding Science' activity and we will also participate in a conference, on February 14th, on board games about scientists with Universidad de Cantabria.
