The IMB-CNM visibilizes women scientists for February 11th 2025
One more year, the IMB-CNM participates with talks in schools, a video campaign for the promotion of new scientific references and the collaboration in a Viquimarató organized by the PRBB.
The Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona (IMB-CNM, CSIC) celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science by focusing on the visibility of the center's female researchers, on the creation of references for the promotion of scientific vocations and on the promotion of parity in science.
Visibility campaign in networks
Scientists Ángela María Henao Isaza, Núria Torres Herrero and Yohana López Aparicio are the protagonists of a series of videos in which they explain their work at IMB-CNM, what they wanted to be when they were little, which women have inspired them and what advice they would give to a girl who does not know whether to study a science career. All videos will be available throughout the week on IMB-CNM's corporate Instagram and Youtube channel.
Ángela María Henao Isaza
Ángela is a physics engineer, graduated from the National University of Colombia (Manizales campus). Motivated by a project for the construction of the first oncology center in her city, she decided to specialize in medical physics and took a master's degree at the University of Valencia. Although the project did not come to fruition, she discovered her passion for medical physics. Currently, she is in her second year of her PhD in physics at the Radiation Detectors Group (RDG), within the medical physics section led by Consuelo Guardiola. Her thesis focuses on the development of a silicon carbide (SiC) dose monitor for a novel advanced radiotherapy technique called “FLASH”.
She is working in the framework of the DOSIFLASH project, which is supported by the CaixaResearch Call for Research in Health of the “la Caixa” Foundation.
Núria Torres Herrero
Núria holds a degree in Chemistry from the Universidad del País Vasco, a PhD in Electrochemistry from the University of Barcelona and a master's degree in occupational risk prevention. She came to the world of microelectronics by chance, after finishing her chemistry degree and being fascinated by this great little world. She did her PhD at IMB-CNM, “Monolithic fuel cells based on porous silicon”, under the supervision of Dr. Joaquín Santander. During that time she discovered that she was happy inside a lab, so she stayed working at IMB-CNM as a process engineer in the Micro and Nanofabrication Clean Room. Today she is in charge of the Wet Etching Area and is responsible for the daily scheduling of processes in the Clean Room areas.
Yohana López Aparicio
Yohana holds a degree in Chemistry from the University of Oviedo and a Master in Electrochemistry, Science and Technology from the UAB. Initially, she focused her career in the field of chemical sensors in the fields of environmental control and health, where, during her TFG, she developed an electronic tongue for the determination and classification of explosives in water. Later, after her arrival at the Chemical Transducers Group (GTQ) of IMB-CNM, he realized the wide range of possibilities presented by microelectronic technologies. She started on the HYDROSENS project, which aims to detect hydrogen at room temperature using interdigitated electrodes modified with carbazole-derived polymers. Currently, she is also working with ISFET (ion-sensitive field-effect transistors) while training in the technological processes developed at the center.
Promoting scientific vocations in education
Four IMB-CNM researchers will give talks about their research career and their work as scientists to schools in Barberà del Vallès, Capellades and Barcelona. With two primary school classes and two secondary school classes, a total of more than 150 students are expected to attend the talks. The scientists who will attend are Maria d'Antuono (physicist), Eva Deltor (electronic engineer), Marwa Ben Amar (chemical engineer) and Núria Termes (biomedical engineer).
The activities are coordinated by the Fundació Catalana per a la Recerca i la Innovació (FCRi) and the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) as part of the #Científiques campaign, in which IMB-CNM participates annually.
Viquimarató
To celebrate February 11, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB) is organizing a Viquimarató session. The objective is to edit, create or translate wikipedia articles, in any language, about women scientists and their contributions. The event is hybrid (at PRBB and online) on Tuesday 11 at 17:00.
The IMB-CNM is a collaborating entity of the event, coordinated by the PRBB with the collaboration of Viquidones-UPF, Amical Wikimedia and ten other research institutions and universities in Catalonia.
February 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
February 11 was declared International Day by the United Nations (UN) in 2016. The year 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, two major milestones in the global advancement of gender equality and women's emancipation. Gender equality in science is crucial to building a better future for all people. Yet women and girls continue to face systemic barriers and biases in pursuing careers in science.
Closing the gender gap in science requires breaking down stereotypes, promoting role models that inspire girls, supporting the advancement of women through targeted programs, and fostering inclusive environments through policies and measures that promote inclusion, diversity and equity.
