"In Spain, barely 20% of senior positions in laboratories, universities and research centers are filled by women. In fact, recent surveys show that 63% of Spaniards believe that women are not suitable to be high-level scientists".

This was stated by Rosa Valenzuela, director and founder of the Valencian business Innomedyx, on the occasion of the presentation of the platform of the University of Navarra Women for Science and Technology, an initiative that aims to support and empower women in science.

During the roundtable 'Mujer y emprendedora, por qué no?CIMAThe director pointed out that only 18% of the science prizes awarded in our country go to women, "and only 3% of the Nobel Prizes in Science have been awarded to a woman. Likewise, of the 173 Spanish scientific societies in the field of health, only 41, 22%, are directed by women".

This entrepreneur in the biotechnology field stressed that despite the fact that for more than thirty years there have been as many women graduates in science careers as men, "we women still need special days, World Day of Women and Girls in Science, to remind society that we are there, that we have a voice and that we continue to strive hard to have the same rights as men".

The importance of female referents in science

The roundtable had as goal the presentation of Women for Science and Technology, a platform promoted by some twenty women professors and researchers from different Schools, from CIMA and the Clínica Universidad de Navarraand by a hundred or so female students pursuing science degrees at the academic center. Prior to the roundtable, a session with experiments for primary and secondary school students was held at position by these university students.

"This project is an initiative of a group of women and scientists who work in the university environment or at research, where we accumulate a background that can help young women who are now starting their degree program", explained Paloma Grau, coordinator of project and vice-dean of Students of the School of Engineers TECNUN, in San Sebastian.

"Our goal", stressed María José Calasanz, director of CIMA Lab Diagnostics, "is that future generations of female scientists have female role models who show them that it is possible to develop an excellent scientific degree program without giving up an equally fulfilling life staff ".

Among the activities already held by the platform are workshops, talks and seminars with women scientists such as Marta Alonso, Navarre researcher at CIMA and the Clinic, award L'Oréal-UNESCO "For Women in Science" in 2013; Ohiana Itúrbide, Biology graduate and director of the scientific publishing house Next Door Publishers; or Reyes Calderón, writer, professor and researcher at School of Economics at the University of Navarra.

Figures on women in science status

• Only 20% hold management positions in laboratories, universities and research centers in Spain.

• 63% of Spaniards believe that they are not suitable to be high-level scientists

• Only 18% of the science prizes awarded in Spain are obtained

• 3% of Nobel Prizes in Science have been awarded to a woman

• They manage only 41 of the 173 Spanish scientific societies