CINTECX expands its presence on 11F and becomes a living laboratory of female scientific role models

The day began with the 10th edition of ElasFanCienTec, organised by the Scientific Culture Unit of the University of Vigo, where students from the IES Politécnico de Vigo discovered the exhibition “Women Researchers at CINTECX”. There, one of its featured scientists, researcher Aida Díez from the Biosuv group, opened the door to her own scientific path through a direct and engaging talk. She spoke not only about experiments or research lines, but also about doubts, decisions and the daily effort that sustains a scientific career. The students responded with questions about what it truly means to work in science from the inside.

The session continued with an immersive experience: a beta test of the scientific escape-room video game “Green Alert: Save Your School with Mission CINTECX”. Designed thanks to funding from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the activity challenged the group to solve puzzles related to technological emergencies, demonstrating that gamification can be an effective tool to spark curiosity and engagement.

Women Researchers at CINTECX: an exhibition that aims to break inertia

Throughout the month, the exhibition “Women Researchers at CINTECX” can be visited both in person and online via the center’s website.

The exhibition brings together twelve scientists from the center as accessible role models for younger generations. Their career paths are presented through illustrations and messages that seek to challenge stereotypes still present in STEM fields, especially in technological and industrial areas. The exhibition functions as a living gallery of contemporary role models: women who research, design, lead teams and build innovation from laboratories, workshops and pilot plants.

More voices and more stages: from MARCO to the LandraCiencia fair

11F also took CINTECX to other spaces in the city. At MARCO, as part of an initiative by the Vigo City Council to bring science closer to children, researcher Aida María Díez Sarabia became a role model for the youngest audiences. Her message was clear: “I wanted the girls to understand that research is a valid professional career.” Drawing on her work in renewable energies and pollutant removal, she reflected on the gender gap still visible in degrees such as mechanics and electronics, where more than 70% of her students continue to be male. For her, providing visible role models is essential so that girls “can see that it is possible” to build their own scientific future.

Meanwhile, researcher Xanel Vecino participated in the LandraCiencia fair, held in the municipality of Carballo last Sunday, an event that brought together nine research teams from across Galicia. With tables full of experiments and materials to explore, the fair became a meeting point between children and the real work of scientific teams. The day demonstrated that curiosity emerges strongly when science is presented in an accessible, hands-on and visual way.

A final reflection on equality in technology

CINTECX’s participation in the 11F programme concluded with a debate organised by ECOBAS. The director of CINTECX took part in the round table “Artificial Intelligence: A Gender Issue?” alongside researchers Rebeca P. Díaz-Redondo (atlanTTic Research Center) and Maria Loureiro (scientific director of ECOBAS). The discussion made it possible to analyse the extent to which biases can be transferred into algorithms and highlighted the importance of incorporating diverse perspectives in the development of technologies that play an increasingly central role in everyday life.

With this participation, CINTECX closed a day marked by the active involvement of its researchers in very diverse spaces —from secondary school classrooms to museums and science fairs— reaffirming its commitment to outreach and helping ensure that more girls and young women can see themselves reflected in scientific and technological careers.