11 February, International Day of Women and Girls in Science

The proportion of women falls as they rise in science careers. This trend, common to the 28 countries that make up the European Union, remains a source of concern while in recent years women have been accounting for 65% of university students and more than 45% of PhD holders, according to a study by the Commission for Women and Science of the National Council for Scientific Research (CSIC).

Over the past 15 years, the global community has been making a great effort to inspire women and girls and engage them in science. Unfortunately, women and girls continue to be excluded from participating fully in science. In order to achieve the full and equal access of women and girls to science and their participation in it , and to further gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the United Nations General Assembly declared 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

NnanoGUNE will be celebrating the day by organising a series of events that aim to draw attention to the activities of women in Nanoscience, to break with the archetypical masculine roles usually attributed to science and technology, and to encourage scientific career choices among girls and teenagers. From 8 to 10 February, nanoGUNE has organised a variety of events for girls and boys between 9 and 10 years old, for secondary school students and for the scientific community of nanoGUNE.