2025/02/13

CIC bioGUNE celebrates February 11th with activities to bring science closer to women and young people

CIC bioGUNE, member of BRTA, reaffirms its commitment to promoting gender equality in science through its participation in various initiatives aimed at highlighting the role of women in research, inspiring scientific vocations, and eliminating gender stereotypes. With this goal in mind, the center has developed and collaborated on multiple activities as part of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

In this context, CIC bioGUNE has actively participated in the 9th edition of Emakumeak Zientzian, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the value of women in science and transforming society through education. This year, under the theme "Hazia erein / Plant the Seed", the event brought together 35 Basque organizations and featured more than 60 activities.

As part of its contribution, CIC bioGUNE hosted two significant visits this week. On Monday, during the activity The Power of Experience, the center welcomed a group of women over 55 years old, who attended a talk by Adriana L Rojas, Platform Manager of Electron Microscopy and Crystallography. During her presentation, Rojas shared her professional journey and the work she carries out at the center. Following the talk, the visitors took a tour of the facilities, where they had the opportunity to learn more about the research conducted at CIC bioGUNE.

On Wednesday, February 12th, CIC bioGUNE welcomed 4th-year ESO students from Mungia High School. During their visit, the students gained insight into the work of one of the center’s young Principal Investigators, June Ereño-Orbea, who shared her career path and the research projects she leads.

Additionally, as part of the Eskolara Itzulera initiative, 14 female scientists from CIC bioGUNE delivered talks in schools across the Basque Country, bringing their knowledge into classrooms to inspire future generations and spark interest in science.

The center also joined other initiatives surrounding February 11th. In collaboration with the Spanish Association for Cancer Research (ASEICA), CIC bioGUNE participated in CONÓCELAS, highlighting the role of female scientists in cancer research. As part of this effort, researchers from the center visited schools in various communities, presenting interactive activities to encourage young girls and students to pursue science and break gender stereotypes in the scientific field.

Moreover, in collaboration with the Bizkaia Association Against Cancer, CIC bioGUNE researchers shared their knowledge with local school students, promoting the elimination of gender biases in science from an early age.

In addition to these activities, starting in January 2025, the center has launched a dissemination and visibility campaign for its female researchers. The campaign, “Women in Biosciences: Female Voices at CIC bioGUNE,” aims to showcase the work of the women at CIC bioGUNE with an inclusive gender perspective. On the 11th of each month, an educational video will be published, giving voice to female researchers at the center, from early-career scientists to established professionals. Through their testimonies, the campaign highlights their achievements, challenges, and contributions to science, inspiring future generations and promoting equality in the scientific field.

Through these initiatives, CIC bioGUNE continues to support gender equality in science, actively contributing to the visibility of women in the scientific field and fostering vocations in new generations.

About CIC bioGUNE
The Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), located in the Bizkaia Technology Park, is a biomedical research organisation conducting cutting-edge research at the interface between structural, molecular and cell biology, with a particular focus on generating knowledge on the molecular bases of disease, for use in the development of new diagnostic methods and advanced therapies.

About BRTA
BRTA is an alliance of 4 collaborative research centres (CIC bioGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, CIC biomaGUNE y CIC energiGUNE) and 13 technology centres (Azterlan, Azti, Ceit, Cidetec, Gaiker, Ideko, Ikerlan, Leartiker, Lortek, Neiker, Tecnalia, Tekniker y Vicomtech) with the main objective of developing advanced technological solutions for the Basque corporate fabric.

With the support of the Basque Government, the SPRI Group and the Provincial Councils of the three territories, the alliance seeks to promote collaboration between the research centres, strengthen the conditions to generate and transfer knowledge to companies, contributing to their competitiveness and outspreading the Basque scientific-technological capacity abroad.

BRTA has a workforce of 3,500 professionals, executes 22% of the Basque Country's R&D investment, registers an annual turnover of more than 300 million euros and generates 100 European and international patents per year.

Spanish version