Emakumeak Zientzian, a decade of building networks

Thirty-four Basque organisations, including the Basque Country Technology Park, have joined forces to organise an extensive programme of activities that highlights the strength of the collective in the 10th edition of Emakumeak Zientzian

‘Marea bizia gara’ / ‘We are a living tide’ is a way of understanding the project and the path it wants to continue following

Registration for the various activities is now open on the website www.emakumeakzientzian.eus

Emakumeak Zientzian celebrates its tenth edition with a vision that looks not only back at what has been achieved, but also forward to the future. Ten years after its inception, the project reaffirms a clear conviction: although progress has been made, inequalities in science persist. They persist in how knowledge is constructed, in who has a voice, in who leads and in who continues to be marginalised. Getting to this point has also meant stopping to reflect on why it is necessary to continue, and in this edition, under the slogan ‘Marea bizia gara’ / ‘We are a living tide’, thirty-four Basque organisations are emphasising the strength of the collective in organising a programme of activities to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is celebrated every year on 11 February.

“A living tide advances thanks to many small contributions that, together, generate movement. It does not depend on a single person or a single action. That is precisely the spirit of Emakumeak Zientzian: a networked project that promotes women’s participation, is committed to a more open, fair and socially connected science, and works to inspire scientific vocations without stereotypes,” says the Emakumeak Zientzian organisation. ‘Marea bizia gara’ / ‘We are the living tide’ is not just a slogan, but a way of understanding the project and the path it wants to continue following. A path that is built on collaboration, commitment and the conviction that a more diverse science is also a better science.

The Emakumeak Zientzian 2026 programme will be concentrated in the week from 3 to 11 February. An extensive programme of more than 70 activities has been designed, covering the entire Basque Country to highlight how small actions, when combined, can generate a large movement. ‘Emakumeak Zientzian is a network that has grown thanks to shared commitment and the conviction that change is only possible if it is collective,’ adds the Emakumeak Zientzian organisation.

This tenth edition will kick off simultaneously in Donostia, Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz on 3 February with the successful event Scientists of Yesterday and Today, which will bring together leading female scientists working in various fields of research. From that date onwards, activities aimed at audiences of all ages will be held. The scientific community, for example, will be able to participate in the round table discussion Let’s Take Action on Equality and Science, with high-level speakers such as Petra Rudolf, Silvia Rueda Pascual and Sara Clavero. In addition to the traditional visits by students to research centres, teenagers will be able to visit the CIC nanoGUNE laboratories in the activity Visit to the Nanoworld or take marine samples on a Navegavela sailing boat alongside AZTI research staff. Families will have the opportunity to take an informative tour of the geological history of the city of San Sebastián through its rocks and landscapes. And, as every year, there will be a range of activities aimed specifically at women over 55, highlighting their role as transmitters of culture.

The activities of this tenth edition will culminate on 11 February, coinciding with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, with a festive event at the San Sebastián Aquarium. This final meeting will serve to share the results of a process of reflection that has given rise to a manifesto or action plan that will mark the future direction of Emakumeak Zientzian and will become the central focus of the celebration.

The full programme of activities is available from today on the website www.emakumeakzientzian.eus and registration for the various activities is now open.

The 34 entities participating in the 10th edition of Emakumeak Zientzian are a representative sample of the science and technology fabric in the Basque Country: Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics (BCAM), Basque Centre on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), BCMaterials, Biogipuzkoa, CIC bioGUNE, Donostia International Physics Centre (DIPC), Elhuyar, EHU Informatika, EHU Kimika, Achucarro, Aranzadi, AZTI, Basque Artificial Intelligence Centre (BAIC), Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Biofisika Institutua, CEIT, the Centre for Materials Physics (CFM CSIC-EHU), CIC biomaGUNE, CIC energiGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, Cidetec, EHU Farmazia Fakultatea, EHU Ingeniaritza Eskola Gipuzkoa, EESS Bilbao, Ikerlan, Ingeniariak, Kutxa Fundazioa, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Euskadiko Parke Teknologikoa, POLYMAT, Tecnun – University of Navarra, Tecnalia, University of Deusto and Vicomtech.

Emakumeak Zientzian 2026 has the outstanding support of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, the Provincial Council of Álava, Fomento San Sebastián, Bilbao Ekintza, the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), Ikerbasque, MUBIL and Salto System, as well as the collaboration of the following entities and organisations: the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the State Research Agency through the Severo Ochoa and María de Maeztu centres affiliated with the initiative, the Basque Film Library and the San Sebastián International Film Festival, Biook, Skills4Science, Laboratorium Bergara, Emakunde, Lemniksata, the Equality Directorate of the UPV/EHU, the San Sebastián Aquarium, San Sebastián Convention Bureau and the Equality Service of the Eibar Town Council.