Susanna Baqué, Doctor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and president of AmicsUAB, gave a retrospective on the figure of different important women in the world of science and highlighted and delved into their discoveries.
After introducing herself, Baqué emphasized the role of women in science and how many of the great female scientists in our history have worked in the shadow of men who ultimately benefited from their discoveries.
She reviewed well-known names such as Hypatia of Alexandria, Marie Curie, Rosalind Franklin, or Jane Goodall, but also those of lesser-known women who have dedicated their lives to research and have been deserving of Nobel Prizes in Chemistry or Medicine, such as Mária Telkes, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodwgin, Barbara McClintok, Margarita Salas, Carme Torras, and Emmanuelle Charpentier.
Next, Baqué spoke about how female role models have been key in advancing her career since the beginning of her studies. She also discussed how many of these role models have been mentors and people who have helped and supported her development as a scientist. From this explanation, a reflection arose about how women prioritize collaboration over competitiveness.
After highlighting the different global, European, and local initiatives being carried out today to promote the role of women in the scientific world and making proposals to improve this participation, both at the institutional and personal levels, a Q&A session was opened in which the attendees were able to express their opinions.
