February 11th: International Day of Women and Girls in Science

• BCAM scientists participate in several activities organized on the occasion of this day that seeks to give visibility to women in science and encourage girls to pursue a career in science

In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women, the United Nations General Assembly declared February 11^th as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Ever since many activities are organized on this day to give visibility to women scientists and to encourage girls to pursue a scientific career.

Among the activities organised on the occasion of 11F is the special radio programme promoted by BIC Bizkaia, which was attended by several women scientists as well as agents from the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the University of the Basque Country. María Xosé Rodriguez (BCAM-Ikerbasque), a researcher from the centre's line of research in Applied Statistics, also participated in the programme, which was broadcast in Onda Vasca. During her interview with journalist Javier Vizcaíno, she explained why she decided to become a scientist, what her work in a research centre is like and what she likes most about it. "Science, and specifically research, is a profession with very positive aspects: you never stop learning, it allows you to choose which projects you would like to work on and it continuously fosters curiosity," she said. Her full interview is available in the following link. 

PhD student Leire Citores (AZTI-BCAM) also joined the celebration of this day by giving a talk entitled "Women in Science: a mathematician among fish" to a group of primary school students from Indautxuko Eskola. In the talk she spoke to them about her thesis project, which focuses on the development of statistical methods to improve fish population management.