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10/02/2022 - General information

Towards full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls

The Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute and Hospital del Mar are once again supporting the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, raising awareness of their work and trying to encourage new vocations. In the case of the IMIM, just over half of the research positions are held by women.

In the 21^st century, women who decide to pursue a career in the various fields of science often receive smaller research grants than their male colleagues. They hold only 12% of the positions in national science academies, while they account for a third of all researchers. Realities that make an initiative like the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and campaigns such as She Inspired Me more necessary than ever.

This historical undervaluation has led IMIM-Hospital del Mar to join the initiative promoted by the United Nations to demand equal access and the participation of women and girls in science. Researchers from the institute, doctors and other research and health professionals explain which women have inspired them to dedicate themselves to research and move forward (you can see the videos at this link). A recognition of female talent that we want to extend to everyone, encouraging you to record your own videos and publish your photos using the hashtag #SheInspiredMe.

Imatge, d’esquerre a dreta i de dalt a baix: Marta Barrera, Joaquín Arribas, Natàlia Soldevila, Toni Celià-Terrassa, Edurne Arriola i Angela Leis.

Ana Montes

A specialist in lung cancer, she was an inspiration to Dr. Edurne Arriola, a researcher in the IMIM-Hospital del Mar Cancer Research Programme and head of the lung cancer section of the Oncology Department. "She taught me that every case provides a learning opportunity, that you have to look in detail at everything that the patient explains and that you explore in the patient." 

https://youtu.be/_JpKrjVWcMg

Gemma Vilagut

This researcher from the Health Services Research Group at the IMIM-Hospital del Mar inspired Natàlia Soldevila, a researcher from the Neurosciences Programme. She says Vilagut "instilled in me her passion for statistics and methodological rigour in studies".

https://youtu.be/GCa8BKIY9Tg

Maria Ángela Nieto Toledano

The coordinator of the Cancer Stem Cells and Metastasis Dynamics research group at the IMIM-Hospital del Mar, Dr. Toni Celià-Terrassa, was inspired by this biochemist and molecular biologist, "a woman who has inspired me a lot in my career, in the field of the search for metastasis."

https://youtu.be/gA1ebEdz4UI

A day-to-day example

Marta Barrera, a researcher in the IMIM-Hospital del Mar Neurosciences Programme, says: "I have been lucky enough to share my life with great women scientists, at least from my point of view, starting with my mother, a lifelong nurse."

https://youtu.be/--XvVS03ARw

Laurence Zitvogel

French doctor and researcher, specialising in oncology and immunology. Dr. Joaquín Arribas, director of the IMIM-Hospital del Mar defines her as "a benchmark in how the microbiome influences the immune anti-tumour response and an excellent example of scientific talent and achievement."

https://youtu.be/pfSQJSjUfxk

Marta Torrens

This psychiatrist, director of the Addictions Process group in the Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Addictions at Hospital del Mar and a researcher at the IMIM-Hospital del Mar, left her mark on Ángela Leis, a researcher in the Biomedical Informatics Programme at the IMIM-Hospital del Mar. "I would like to highlight her approachability, her energy, her enthusiasm, always ready to find the time to answer any questions you may have and making everything that seemed difficult easy, both in everyday life and in science."

https://youtu.be/sYNL8wjr2lI

Other activities, organised by the PRBB to commemorate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 

Roundtable on motherhood in science (15 February at 12.30 pm, online). Co-organised by the PRBB and IDIBAPS, this will focus on women scientists who are also mothers. Among others, and on behalf of the IMIM-Hospital del Mar, Dr. Giuliana Magri, a researcher in the B-cell biology group, will take part. The roundtable can be followed through this link.

Wikimarathon on 8 February, from 5 to 7 pm. On 8 February, the PRBB and its centres, together with Espacio Viquidones from Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), celebrated and raised the profile of women scientists in an online edition to try to raise awareness of women scientists by creating, editing and translating Wikipedia entries. 

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