The Centre for Research in Technologies, Energy and Industrial Processes (CINTECX) at the University of Vigo continues to advance its commitment to gender equality with a new initiative, ‘Women Scientists in Comics: Heroines of Engineering and Technology’, funded under the 2026 call for grants to organise activities that contribute to raising awareness of gender issues and promoting egalitarian values at the University of Vigo.
The initiative represents a new step in the work carried out by the centre in recent years to raise the profile of women in the fields of science and technology. Following previous editions of ‘Cámara Abierta CINTECX’, which focused on the experiences of research staff and on issues such as equality, work-life balance and care responsibilities, the centre is now embracing a new format: the illustrated comic strip as a tool for outreach and raising awareness.
This is how ‘Científicas en Viñetas: Heroínas da Enxeñaría e da Tecnoloxía’ came about – a comic that brings to life the stories of women who broke down barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields. To this end, the project transforms their stories into an accessible and engaging graphic narrative, in which female scientists and engineers take precisely the place that was long denied to them: that of protagonists, thereby making them female role models in STEM.
Three female engineers, three stories of breaking down barriers
The protagonists chosen represent three different eras, contexts and ways of blazing a trail in engineering and technology: Norah Magero, Beatrice Hicks and Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu.
Norah Magero, a Kenyan mechanical engineer and expert in renewable energy, embodies a contemporary vision of engineering focused on solving real-world problems faced by communities. Among her projects, VacciBox stands out: a portable, solar-powered refrigeration solution designed to facilitate the storage and transport of vaccines in areas with limited access to a stable electricity supply.
Beatrice Alice Hicks was a pioneer in the field of American engineering in the 20th century. She built her career working on control systems and sensors and also helped pave the way for other women professionals as one of the founders of the Society of Women Engineers.
For her part, Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu was one of the first female engineers in Europe. At a time when women faced significant barriers to accessing technical studies, she managed to build an extensive career in research and engineering, becoming a role model for subsequent generations.
The comic will be presented at CINTECX’s Open Science Day
‘Women Scientists in Comics: Heroines of Engineering and Technology’ will be unveiled on 6 November during CINTECX’s Open Science Day, to be held at O Tinglado in the Port of Vigo. Throughout the event, which will bring together around 300 students in the morning and open its doors to the general public from 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm, the public will be able to discover this new initiative that combines science, creativity and equality, alongside the scientific activities and demonstrations organised by the centre’s research groups.
The comic will be available in digital format on the CINTECX website, in the Equality section. Furthermore, anyone or any organisation interested in receiving a physical copy can request one by emailing cintecx@uvigo.gal.