VALENCIA, 25 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
More than 150 researchers and trainers have participated in the First Conference on the Leadership of Women in Science, an “innovative” event in which the Futura project was officially presented.
This is an initiative for the leadership of women in science organized by the Spanish Association for Executive Development in Science, Innovation and Art (Asedecia) and which already has the participation of Global Omnium, the Miguel Hernández University, Universidad of Valencia, CEU San Pablo Foundation and Incliva, among other entities.
The Príncipe Felipe Research Center (CIPF) was the setting for the presentation. The welcome was received by Deborah J. Burks, director of the CIPF and a great ally of the project, who highlighted that 68% of the CIPF staff are women, and 60% of the research groups are directed by women, the result of a Plan of Equality that reflects the importance of institutionally generating a culture of promoting women in leadership positions.
The president of ASEDEC I A and the Futura Project, Luisa Bravo, explained that “this is the first experimental study in the world that will measure the impact of bringing two methodologies to science: Coaching and leadership training adapted to the science”.
In this sense, Mónica Lorente, responsible for development of the physical-chemistry area of ??Gamaser of Global Omnium, has pointed out “the absolute involvement of the Valencian business group since the beginning of the Futura project in the objective of highlighting women’s leadership in science and take it a step further. “We have as an example the team of fantastic women that make up the I D i Department, led by María Ángeles Serrano.”
For her part, Eloisa del Pino, director of the Scientific Research Center (CSIC), has described the Futura project as a “wonderful and inspiring idea, as well as timely”, given that she has referred to the “scissors graph, that distance “the abysmal gap between women scientists who achieve positions of responsibility and leadership compared to men, with more than 70% of the positions occupied by male scientists and less than 30% by women”.
Del Pino has pointed out that “reading these reports gives the impression that we are not moving forward and that the glass ceiling seems very resistant, which is why this year, within the III Equality Plan, we have included a particularly important measure, to analyze the last 15 years , try to figure out why to act like a scalpel.”
At the inauguration, the rector of the Miguel Hernández University, Juan José Ruiz, expressed “the commitment of his institution to inclusive policies that break the famous glass ceilings and the prejudices that prevent women from achieving leadership and for this reason, we were the first to join the Futura project”.
Mavi Mestre, rector of the Universitat de València, has also defined the initiative as “crucial and significant, in an issue in which the Universitat de València has made significant progress.
“An issue that worries us and moves us to act. It is an essential initiative that combines ethical and scientific commitment so that women have more tools. And this is said by the first rector of a University that has taken 518 years for a woman to reach the rectorate “, he highlighted.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Mª José Ferrer San Segundo, first deputy mayor of the Valencia City Council, who highlighted the importance of this initiative to break the glass ceiling and the exemplary nature of the women who gathered at the CIPF today. .
During the morning session, the “Women in Science” Roundtable was held with the participation of Maite Paramio, president of the Association of Women Researchers and Technologists, and Virginia Langbackk, first director of the European Institute for Gender Equality.
After these interventions, the Futura Project was presented by its director, Luisa Bravo, and in which Enma Benlloch, manager of the UMH, and Elvira de la Peña, researcher at the UMH_CSIC neuroscience institute, also participated, as spokesperson for the scientists who are already active in the project.
Subsequently, at the “Current Keys to Female Leadership in Research” Roundtable, among other top-level professionals, the director of the National Cancer Research Center, María Blasco, spoke, commenting on a recent study by the Harvard Business Review, explaining that she has “a somewhat disturbing conclusion” because it talks about the fact that the predominant culture continues to be that of 24/7, “a culture of overwork that is still very present.”
Mar Porras, from the Executive Board of the STEM Women Congress, participated in the subsequent table, “Female Leadership in Innovation and Entrepreneurship”; Mª Angeles Martin, president of Skylife Engineering; Laura Olcina, president of the Spanish Federation of Technology Centers and Isabel García, researcher at the Energy Research Center.
The closing of the morning was given by Magdalena Cordero, former Director of Information and Innovation of the Court of Accounts and Mariola Penadés, General Director of Research and Innovation of the Ministry of Health. Penadés noted that “this is a meeting of an exceptional group of women who, with their passion and dedication, are enriching the world of science, and more specifically leadership in science.”
“Talent has no gender and in no case should it be an impediment for anyone to achieve excellence. The world of science and research is enormously enriched by diversity and the different perspectives that each person, regardless of their gender, brings. to the table and contributes to society,” he stated.
In the afternoon session, workshops will be held in which participants will be able to delve deeper into the main conclusions of the morning presentations and practice leadership and effective communication skills with a coach, connecting live with Spanish researchers who develop their activity at MIT and Harvard University.
The opening of the workshops will be led by the Spanish consul in Boston, Ana Durán. Representing the government of Spain, Silvia Rueda, director of the Women and Science Unit of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, will close this day of the Futura Project that is adding new allies.
