The Basque Country Technology Park joins a new edition of “Science and Technology in Women’s Voices”, with more than 500 students taking part

The initiative, promoted by the Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks (APTE) to encourage scientific vocations among secondary school girls, has given students an insight into the work of leading women from across the different campuses of the Basque Country Technology Park

More than 500 secondary school and sixth-form students attended the “Science and Technology in Women’s Voices” events held from 4 to 6 November at Hernani Campus, Vitoria-Gasteiz Campus and Zamudio/Derio Campus. The events centred on the experiences of women scientists working at the Basque Country Technology Park, shared first-hand by the women themselves, and were complemented by practical workshops and visits to the “Women Who Changed the World” exhibition.

“Science and Technology in Women’s Voices” is an initiative promoted by the Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks (APTE), which is celebrating its eighth edition this year. Its aim is to increase the percentage of female students choosing science or technology pathways in secondary and higher education. The Basque Country Technology Park takes part in the event every year, in line with its commitment to encouraging scientific vocations among young women.

The first event took place on Wednesday 4 November at Hernani Campus, in the Orona Ideo building. A total of 180 students from Mary Ward, Colegio Alemán and La Salle Donostia attended the event, where they had the opportunity to hear about the experiences of Beatriz Alonso from Graphenea and Jezabel R. García from Multiverse.

On Thursday 5 November, it was the turn of Vitoria-Gasteiz Campus, at an event featuring Melania Rosique from Baigene and Zuriñe Lázaro from AEG. A total of 151 students from Niño Jesús, Ikasbidea-Durana and Carmelitas Sagrado Corazón attended the event.

Finally, Zamudio/Derio Campus hosted the final “Science and Technology in Women’s Voices” event on Friday 6 November. Nerea Ortiz Olarra from BC3 and Ana Santiago from Sisteplant shared their professional experiences with 195 students from Bizkaia, representing Gernika, San Felix Ikastola and Aixerrota.

In addition to the talks, all three events included a biomimicry workshop and a visit to the “Women Who Changed the World” exhibition, which provides an engaging and educational insight into the role played by some of the most prominent women in science throughout history.

Through this project, the Basque Country Technology Park and APTE aim to highlight the importance of making science studies more visible to younger female audiences, as participation among girls and young women in these fields remains low. In this context, the initiative showcases the ability of science and technology parks to foster STEAM vocations and thereby help create a more competitive innovation system.