(Zaragoza. February 11, 2025). The University Institute of Environmental Sciences of Aragon (IUCA) joins the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day promoted by the United Nations to highlight the role of women in science and encourage female participation in scientific and technological disciplines.

On this occasion, IUCA emphasizes the work, commitment, and leadership of its female researchers, who play a fundamental role in the institute’s activities. Female researchers at IUCA led 44.1% of the projects developed by the institute in 2024, with a particular focus on European projects, where they account for over 62%. Furthermore, they secured more than 48% of the total funds raised by the institute in various calls last year.

Currently, these researchers serve as principal investigators for 7 out of the 16 research groups—or partial representations of them—affiliated with IUCA and co-lead 3 of these groups.

These statistics surpass the average values reflected in the “Study on the Situation of Female Researchers at the University of Zaragoza (2000 to 2021)” in terms of leadership in research groups, fundraising, and project leadership. The study, conducted by three researchers from the public Aragon campus—Carmen Baras, Lina Maldonado, and María Asunción Beamonte—was presented in 2021.

The campaign “I Am a Scientist. I Live in Your Neighborhood” once again recognizes the contributions of women in science. This year (5th Edition), chemist Josefina Pérez-Arantegui (GEAS) represents all the female scientists at IUCA.