At the event, organized by the Equality Commissions of the research institutes of the Science Park of the University of Valencia (PCUV), the speakers highlighted the importance of education as a fundamental tool to overcome gender bias, discouraging girls from pursuing scientific careers, and the urgency of implementing work-friendly measures
On Friday 7 March, the Science Park of the University of Valencia (PCUV) hosted the 9th Women in Science Day, as part of the commemorative events of 8 March, International Women’s Day. The event, organized by the equality commissions of the research institutes of the Science Park of the University of Valencia (PCUV), was opened by Pedro Carrasco, director of the PCUV; Sylvia Martínez Gallego, vice-rector of the UV; Rosa Monchales, director of the Unitat d'Igualtat de la UV; and Eugenio Coronado, director of the Institute for Molecular Science (ICMOL).
In the first part, Pilar Goya Laza, researcher at the Institute of Medical Chemistry (IQM - CSIC), gave a historical presentation on women and chemistry. The day continued with a round table, "Women in Science", in which participated the researcher Pilar Goya together with Amparo López Rubio, director of the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology (IATA); Emilia Matallana Redondo, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Valencia and former director of the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio); and Berta Rubio Barroso, prominent expert in experimental nuclear physics and former deputy director of the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC).
"Men continue to have more support from their supervisors and more resources to investigate. Women, on the other hand, face more harassment and stress", Pilar Goya, CSIC researcher, on persistent inequalities in scientific research"
One of the key themes addressed during the table was women’s leadership in science. López Rubio stressed the importance of promoting women’s leadership: "It is an area that we must empower. We women have to break the barrier of asking whether we will be able to carry out projects". In this same line, Matallana reflected on how leadership should not be interpreted as an imitation of the male style. "They told me that I am very mother in my way of leading, but I answered them: What’s the problem with that?" he explained.
Work-family balance was another of the topics discussed. Rubio recounted a personal experience: when she became pregnant, her boss asked why she was leaving her job, since at the time it was assumed that scientific career was incompatible with family life. Matallana agreed that motherhood has a much greater impact on women than men, underlining the urgent need for conciliation measures such as the creation of day care centres in companies and universities, a measure she called "essential".
"The great challenge was to assume that it could not be 100% efficient in everything", Emilia Matallana, professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, reflecting on the self-demand and the reconciliation between personal and professional life
Discrimination against women in the workplace remains a reality, especially in research. Goya noted that men still receive more support from their supervisors and have more resources to investigate, while women face more harassment, conciliation difficulties and stress. For her part, Matallana acknowledged that although she had never been directly discriminated against, self-assertion was a constant personal challenge: "I asked myself for explanations and compared myself with my colleagues. The great challenge was to assume that I could not be 100% efficient in everything". Goya also encouraged female students to apply for prizes and awards because, according to her, women tend to feel more modest when applying.
As a fundamental tool to overcome these prejudices, the speakers agreed on the importance of education. Rubio lamented the growing decline of women in areas such as physics, noting that there is a social bias that discourages girls from choosing science. "It is crucial to start spreading from schools," he said. Matallana added that it is essential for young women to have current references and "normal women", without having to resort to historical figures like Marie Curie.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. It is crucial to watch that things do not backtrack and ensure that there is a vigilant parity", Berta Rubio, former deputy director of the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC)
As for public policies, López said that although sometimes equality measures are excessive, their implementation remains essential to avoid rejection, especially among the youngest. In this regard, Goya pointed out that proactive measures are necessary, although they often face obstacles such as the reluctance of some women to apply for positions only for women.
Rubio, for his part, defended the need for gender quotas to correct the biases that affect both men and women when forming teams. Although he considered these measures to be "patches", he argued that the long-term goal is to eliminate the need for quotas.
The panelists agreed that, despite significant progress in women’s representation in science, important challenges remain. In an increasingly polarized global context, the experts warned that progress on equality could be threatened. "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. It is crucial to watch that things do not go backwards and ensure that there is vigilant parity," concluded Rubio.
Relive International Women’s Day at the PCUV
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