Outreach

INAOE celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Santa María Tonantzintla, Puebla, February 11. With the participation of more than 120 high school students from three schools in the region, today the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics (INAOE), a center coordinated by the Secretariat of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (Secihti), celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

A conference, visits to laboratories and telescopes, and integration activities made up the program of activities for this global celebration that aims to highlight the key role of women in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and to promote scientific careers.

The day began with a welcome by Dr. David Sánchez de la Llave, Interim General Director of INAOE, and Dr. Claudia Feregrino Uribe, in charge of the affairs of the Research and Technological Development Directorates.

In a brief speech, Dr. Sánchez de la Llave highlighted the key role of women in science, technology and innovation, and invited the attendees to make the most of their participation in the event.

To begin, M. C. Mireya Lucía Hernández Jaimes, a PhD student at INAOE, gave the talk “Cybersecurity without complications.” Later, the attendees learned about the Schmidt Camera in Tonantzintla and participated in a science and reading activity at the Luis Enrique Erro Library.

The students also had the opportunity to visit  laboratories such as Robotics, Cybersecurity, Biosignal Processing and Medical Computing, Electrophotonics, Optical Communications, Optical Fibers, Holography and Thin Films. The room that houses the collection of more than 15 thounsand astrophotographic plates taken with the Schmidt over several decades was also open to visits.

Finally, the attendees participated in a question and answer session in which some of the reasons why equal participation of women in science has not yet been achieved were exposed. The students highlighted, among other problems, the preconceived cultural ideas that science, technology and innovation are not for them, as well as the lack of information and inspiration.

With this type of actions, it is hoped to awaken the seed of curiosity in girls and young women and promote scientific vocations worldwide.