SCIENCE IN FEMININE II Contest Rules

IMB-CNM launches the second edition of the contest (2026) to boost the careers of early-stage and trainee researchers and technicians. Through short presentations, participants can showcase their projects and motivations. Check the rules and take part!

Data on gender equality in science shows that, although progress has been made toward greater participation by women in scientific education, their presence gradually declines as they advance in their research careers.

In Spain, according to the 2025 report Científicas en Cifras (Women in Science by the Numbers), prepared by the Women and Science Unit of the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU), women currently account for 50.2% of those earning doctoral degrees. However, this representation does not hold true in positions of greater responsibility: women hold 27% of professorships and 26.1% of research professor positions in public research organizations.

This gradual decline in female representation highlights that achieving balanced participation in the early stages of scientific training does not, in and of itself, guarantee balanced representation throughout an entire research career.

Gender equality in science is not only a matter of justice and equal opportunity, but also of ensuring that the scientific system can attract, develop, and retain all available talent. Spanish legislation on science itself establishes gender equality as a cross-cutting principle and provides for specific measures to support women’s advancement in research careers, prevent them from leaving the field, and promote their presence at the highest levels.

With the aim of helping to highlight the work, careers, and experiences of the women who are part of the center, the IMB-CNM Equality Committee is announcing the second edition of the Science in Feminine Contest.

The contest aims to combine science communication with a gender perspective, providing participants with a space to explain their research and reflect on what it means to conduct research as a woman in the scientific field.

Contest objectives

  • To highlight the work and career paths of the women who are part of the IMB-CNM.
  • To encourage reflection on the gender perspective in science and research.
  • To highlight different experiences and paths to a scientific career.
  • To promote new and creative ways of communicating science.
  • To bring the research conducted at the IMB-CNM to a general audience using accessible language.

What is it about

Participants must prepare a scientific monologue that meets the following conditions:

  • Duration: 4 minutes maximum.
  • Content: It must explain some aspect related to the participant’s research, work, or field of expertise in a way that is understandable to a general audience.
  • Gender perspective: It must be substantially incorporated into the presentation, accounting for approximately 15% to 30% of its content. Possible approaches are detailed in the call.
  • Language: The presentation may be delivered in Catalan, Spanish, or English.
  • Format: The presentation must conclude with a couplet (a stanza of two lines that rhyme—either in consonance or assonance—and are of similar length) that creatively summarizes one of the ideas, concepts, or reflections presented during the monologue.
  • Language: The presentation must be clear, precise, and accessible, avoiding the unnecessary use of technical terms or explaining them when absolutely necessary. It must also be tailored to a general audience, requiring no prior specialized knowledge.

Eligibility requirements

Eligible participants are those who:

  • Identify as women, either fully or partially (cisgender women, transgender women, and non-binary individuals).
  • Are members of the IMB-CNM between the announcement of the call for entries and the date of the competition and the announcement of the results.
  • Fall into one of the following categories:
    • Currently pursuing a Ph.D.,
    • Have completed a Ph.D. no more than three years prior to the date of the competition,
    • Working as cleanroom or laboratory technicians or engineers with less than 5 years of experience.
  • Have not been winners in the previous edition.

Each participant may submit only one proposal.

What are the prizes

  • First Prize: Registration and travel expenses (up to 900 €) to a major conference in the winner’s field of research. This conference may be interdisciplinary and, subject to justification regarding its contribution to the winner’s research career, will be selected by the winner.
  • Second Prize: Enrollment in a mentoring program (to be selected by the committee).
  • Third Prize: A specialized training course in science communication and outreach (to be selected by the committee).
    The prizes must be redeemed within the calendar year following the contest’s conclusion. Under duly justified circumstances, an extension of up to 6 months may be considered.

How to enter the contest

  • Dates and registration deadline
  1. The registration deadline is November 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
  2. The contest will be held on December 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., in the IMB-CNM Auditorium.
  • Submission of applications
  1. Interested individuals must submit their application by filling out the following registration form, on which they must provide their name and the title of their presentation. Participation is binding; therefore, if you are unable to attend on the day of the contest, please notify us in advance and provide a valid reason.
  2. The committee reserves the right to cancel the contest if there are fewer than 8 participants.
inscription form

Complete information about the inscription process and the evaluation criteria in the contest rules.

Science in the feminine II Contest Rules

The registration deadline is November 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

The contest will be held on December 2, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., in the IMB-CNM Auditorium.

Science in Feminine II Contest in 3 languages