As every year, the ICIQ joins the commemoration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, an initiative promoted by the United Nations to promote the full and equal access and participation of women in the scientific field. In the 2026 edition, under the global slogan focused on turning the vision of equality into a real impact on STEM disciplines, the institute reaffirms its commitment to gender equality as a driver of scientific excellence.
#Científiques: A program to inspire and transform
This program combines outreach activities in schools and visualization campaigns to share experiences and analyze the current challenges of female researchers.
The ICIQ actively participates in the #científiques platform, a joint initiative of the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation (FCRI) and BIST (Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology), which this year reaches its 8th edition and which mobilizes more than half a thousand researchers to bring their experience to students in the 6th and 1st years of ESO and become female references in science.
From the ICIQ we participate again in order to promote gender equality with talks in various primary and secondary schools throughout the territory. The aim is to show female role models to students, explaining our daily work and demonstrating that chemistry is a field of opportunities without distinction of gender.
Among our participating researchers is Dr. Gisela Colet, Dr. Eugenia Martínez Ferrero, Dr. Marta Llorens Fons, and Angie Bolaños, predoctoral student.
Scientists in action… Try it!
Researcher Marta Romero, a predoctoral student in Prof. Mónica H. Pérez-Temprano’s group, is one of the five scientists participating in the new edition of Scientists in Action… Try it! within the framework of the FECYT Experimenta Challenge project, of which the ICIQ is a part. The rest of the scientists are from IRTA, UAB, and the faculties of Chemistry, Oenology and ETSEQ of the URV.
Marta explains what a mechanistic study is, where it is observed how a chemical reaction takes place step by step, what happens before and after the reaction and how a catalyst helps during the process.
This gamified educational initiative engages young minds with hands-on scientific activities, emphasizing the role of women in scientific discovery.
Campaign of the Department of Research and Universities
The institute also participates with the researcher Laia Marín, a predoctoral student in the group of Prof. Emilio Palomares, in the campaign promoted by the Department of Research and Universities of the Government of the Generalitat to vindicate science in women, carried out by researchers, on the occasion of 11F.
Social media campaign
In addition, as part of our commitment to equality, ICIQ maintains the campaign #ICIQWomeninScience highlighting the work of the center’s women scientists for another year. This initiative highlights his research and shows the passion and perseverance that drives his contributions to the global scientific community. The campaign is published on the 11th of each month as a reminder that we want to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in STEM every day.
Firm commitment to equality
The ICIQ Equality Commission stresses that February 11 is not just a day of celebration, but a time for active reflection. “In 2026, our focus is on impact: we want women not only to be there, but to occupy decision-making positions and for their contribution to be valued with total equity,” the institution points out.
The ICIQ maintains several active internal policies, such as the Equality Plan, which seek to eliminate the “glass ceiling” and ensure an inclusive and diverse work environment for all.
Precisely, in 2026, the ICIQ will host the 4th Empowering Women in Organic Chemistry (EWOC Europe) that will take place on June 29-30 in Tarragona.
This event features several scientific presentations and motivational workshops on topics relevant to women and allies embarking on a career in organic chemistry. The aim is to facilitate networking with industry, academia, women and allies at different stages of their professional careers.
With these actions, the ICIQ reaffirms its desire to be an agent of social change, inspiring the next generation of chemists and ensuring that female talent is a fundamental piece in solving the global challenges of the future.
La entrada ICIQ celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026: from commitment to real impact se publicó primero en ICIQ.