The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) celebrated today the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with an outreach event in which nearly 150 students aged between 11 and 17 from Gran Canaria were able to learn, firsthand, about the professional experience of PLOCAN women scientists, as well as science facts and key aspects of scientific work linked to the ocean.
“With this kind of event we aim to bring boys and girls real experiences—real examples of women who are working in science and engineering related to the marine environment,” explained Adriana García, an industrial engineer.
Held in the Océano hall, the gathering combined talks by the center’s researchers with a Q&A and interaction session with the students, who showed strong interest in real-world applications of science and technology in the marine field.
“If I think back to when I was these students’ age, I had no idea what people actually did professionally. You start studying science, mathematics… and you like some subjects more than others, but sometimes you don’t see the point. That’s why these initiatives are important: we can explain professionally what we’re doing with concrete examples. It’s great for them to see that what they’re studying matters—it lays the foundations for building a professional life in this area, which can be connected to the ocean, biodiversity, climate change,” said Corina Moya, a PLOCAN researcher.
The day also included the screening of videos about historically and internationally recognized women scientists, with the aim of providing role models and highlighting women’s contributions to scientific progress. The professional journeys of Ada Lovelace, Hedy Lamarr, Mary Sears and Marie Tharp were among those addressed in the screenings, which also featured Jeanne Villepreux-Power and Sylvia Earle.
“These kinds of events that bring science closer and foster scientific vocations in such young students are very important. In my personal case, a very similar event made me decide to dedicate myself to research in renewable energies,” said María José Pérez, PhD in Electrical Energy Systems.
During the event, the inspiring purpose of the initiative was underscored: offering students close and real references and encouraging young people in general—and especially girls—to approach science “without setting limits.” Along the same lines, students were reminded that “science is not a secret club,” but a way of looking at the world with curiosity and learning through questions and tests.
“Why shouldn’t a girl study a science degree?” asked engineer Nayra Pumar. “In technical matters, development is the same for boys and girls. Perhaps what matters most are each person’s individual traits—intelligence, creativity. For me, the most important thing for working in science is being creative,” she added.
The participating scientists shared their paths, their day-to-day work at PLOCAN and how scientific knowledge is built through teamwork and perseverance, in a format designed to spark scientific vocations and reinforce students’ confidence.
Oceanographer Veronica Arnone shared that “I didn’t have any close source of inspiration to go into science, but I did like observing my surroundings. I was very curious to understand how things happened, and I ended up answering all those ‘whys’ once I started studying science. That was key to applying that theoretical knowledge to the marine environment and understanding why our coasts and beaches are the way they are.”
“I think there are more and more women in science, but it’s also true that visibility is increasing. Communication and social media make it easier to showcase our work. In the past, in more closed societies, it was harder for women to access this field, but now, when you go to science faculties, there are many women and that’s very positive. It opens opportunities and, above all, it gives visibility and normalizes it because, in the end, the idea is: if you like science, study it,” said Mariona Casamayor, PhD in Marine Sciences.
In addition to the more personal aspects of their professional journeys, the scientists addressed topics such as Artificial Intelligence and data, bio-observatories and monitoring, ocean research and exploration, as well as applied science from the seafloor, clean energy and engineering, coastal observation and the scientific reading of beaches.
“These events help to make visible what is done in science and why it is important to do research,” said Nalu Franco, PhD in Marine Sciences. “We always say you can’t protect what you don’t know. We want boys and girls to be more aware of the ocean’s importance in our lives, of coasts and beaches, and of how to take care of everything that affects our lives—and how we also affect, often negatively, marine and coastal ecosystems.”
“Being a woman in science has an implication: we must open the way and show that talent has no gender. It also involves a responsibility: we must inspire other girls and young women to see themselves in these spaces. I think it’s not only a professional career. We have to contribute with a diverse perspective. Science needs different viewpoints, both male and female, in order to move forward,” added engineer Ana Marcos.
For her part, researcher Silvia Martín emphasized that “we still see that, in some sectors of the blue economy, such as aquaculture and fisheries, only 1.5 of jobs are held by women. In enabling technologies, such as robotics or AI applied to the sea, we also see that only 2 out of 10 jobs are held by women. These are not encouraging figures, which is why we try to motivate these vocations at early ages and train women who are already on these paths.”
In turn, Tania Montoto, PhD in Marine Sciences, added that “this day is important for visibility, but it is not only for girls and women; it is also for boys and for people in representative positions, who have to see that there is another profile of people who want to participate in these spaces where they have historically been less represented. Fortunately, this is changing, and more and more women scientists and research group leaders are being seen, or women embarking on an oceanographic campaign—something they could not do before.”
