The University of Vigo takes another step forward in its commitment to science outreach and the promotion of STEM vocations among young people—especially girls—with the publication of the fifth edition of the catalogue I Want to Be a Researcher. In this new edition, the project evolves to better suit its audience through a new format that brings the reality of women scientists even closer to young readers: direct-style interviews, an audiobook narrated by the protagonists themselves, and an easy-to-read version.
“The I Want to Be a Researcher catalogue is being renewed to offer a format more in line with the development of the children it targets,” highlight Belén Rubio Armesto, Vice-Rector for Research, Transfer and Innovation, and Mónica Valderrama Santomé, Vice-Rector for Communication and Institutional Relations, in the opening interview. “This new edition is presented as a single volume featuring direct conversations with researchers from the University of Vigo, aiming to foster a closer and more authentic connection with readers.” As part of this effort to connect with the public, the edition uses photography as the visual thread of the narrative, through the lens of photographer Charo Lopes (Boiro, 1988).
From astrophysics, economics, communication, law…
In this edition, ten researchers from UVigo share their journeys into science from fields as diverse as astrophysics, economics, communication, law, and nanotechnology. “The paths these women have taken are many and varied, showing that there is no single way to enter research. Each journey is shaped by personal decisions, curiosity, challenges overcome, and a passion for knowledge,” emphasizes the UCC+i.
The catalogue opens with a prologue in interview format with Belén Rubio and Mónica Valderrama, serving as a gateway to the ten stories that follow. The first features Ana Ulla Miguel, Professor of Astrophysics and researcher at CIM, who recalls that at the age of fourteen she already knew she wanted to pursue astronomy: “I bought my first astronomy book and started learning on my own, without a telescope, just by eye and with a red flashlight so as not to affect my night vision.” For Ulla, understanding that Earth is just “a small planet floating in a vast universe” helps put many of our daily worries into perspective.
Silvia García González, professor at the Faculties of Fine Arts and Design, also highlights the importance of emotional connection to knowledge. In her case, family history gives meaning to her motivations: “My maternal grandfather was a shipwright in Massó, and I would love to learn carpentry because it connects me to his memory.”
Mercedes Solla Carracelas, engineer and researcher with the Geotech group and CINTECX, says her work is driven by a fascination with “seeing beyond what is visible,” interpreting hidden signals in the earth using ground-penetrating radar.
Audiobook and easy-to-read version: a commitment to inclusion
One of the most notable new features of this edition is the inclusion of an audiobook, in which the protagonists themselves narrate their stories—broadening access and connection with the audience. In the same spirit, an easy-to-read version has been created, adapting the content with clear language and simple sentences, removing cognitive barriers and making it easier to understand for people with reading difficulties, neurodevelopmental disorders, or those who simply prefer a more direct reading experience.
As in previous editions, the catalogue is available in digital format and will be distributed to nearly 200 educational centers across Galicia. The initiative is complemented by a teaching guide and interactive content created on the Genially platform, aimed at supporting the use of the catalogue in classrooms.
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