Lore Zumeta talks about her experience in Inspira STEAM

• The BCAM PhD student has participated in this initiative which aims to promote scientific and technological vocations among girls through a mentoring program

On July 21st, the presentation of the 5th edition of the Inspira STEAM Euskadi project took place in Bizkaia. This initiative promoted by the University of Deusto, in which the Basque Center for Applied Mathematics - BCAM participates, aims to promote scientific-technological vocations among girls through a group mentoring programme among primary school students and professional women from the world of research, science and technology.

BCAM PhD student, Lore Zumeta, collaborated in the last edition of Inspira STEAM and wanted to talk about her experience to encourage other women scientists to participate in the program.

Lore participated as a mentor offering 6 formative sessions to a group of students of 1st of ESO of the Pagasarribide IPI centre and she assures that through these sessions the students have the opportunity to know closely women who are dedicated to science and technology, they learn what the STEAM disciplines are, they talk about the diverse professions related to the scientific field, they discover that stereotypes exist and they learn to identify them.

"It has been an enriching experience to interact with young people of 12-13 years old, to talk to them about science and technology, STEAM professions and to bring them closer to my daily life," she says.

She also believes that the experience has helped her to learn a lot: "in the sessions we work on specific topics through questions and games that promote the participation of the students and provoke a space for reflection. We are talking about women scientists who have had a relevant role in history, but who they do not know or are not known at all. I think they now have a broader vision of science and technology.

In short, Lore would encourage other women involved in science and technology to participate: "it is gratifying to make known the different contexts in which the STEAMs can be applied, our role is very important".

Every year more and more women join this initiative, which is supported by Innobasque and financed by the three provincial councils (Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Alava), BBK, the Basque Country Technology Park Network and Debegesa. Last year, 250 mentors showed 2,135 girls and 2,145 boys from 80 schools their profession and the world of the STEAMs.