Emakumeak Zientzian, a decade weaving networks

Emakumeak Zientzian is holding its tenth edition with a perspective that does not remain solely on its track record, but looks towards the future. Ten years after the project emerged, it is reasserting itself with a clear conviction: although progress has been made, inequalities in science remain. They remain in terms of how knowledge is built, who has a voice, who leads and who continues to be marginalized. Getting to this point has also meant stopping to reflect on why it is necessary to continue, and in this edition, under the slogan ‘Marea bizia gara’ / ‘We are the spring tide’, thirty-four Basque organizations are stressing the power of collectivity in organizing a program of activities to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is celebrated every year on 11th February.

“The spring tide advances thanks to many small contributions which, together, generate movement. It does not depend on a single person or a single action. That is precisely the spirit of Emakumeak Zientzian: a networked project that promotes the participation of women, is committed to a more open, fairer and socially more connected science, and works to inspire science vocations without stereotypes," say the Emakumeak Zientzian organisers. “Marea bizia gara” / “We are the spring tide” / is not just a slogan, it is a way of understanding the project and the path it aims to go on treading. A path built on collaboration, commitment and the conviction that more diverse science is also better science.

The Emakumeak Zientzian 2026 programme will be concentrated into the week from 3 to 11 February. An extensive programme of over 70 activities has been designed to cover the entire Basque Country and to highlight how small, joint actions can have a transforming impact. “Emakumeak Zientzian is a network that has grown thanks to shared commitment and the conviction that change is only possible if it is collective,” add the Emakumeak Zientzian organisers.

This tenth edition will kick off simultaneously in Donostia / San Sebastian, Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz on 3 February with the successful event Scientists of yesterday and today, which will bring together leading female scientists working in various fields of research. From that date onwards, activities geared towards the general public of all ages will be run. The scientific community, for example, will be able to participate in the round table discussion Let's take action on equality and science, with leading speakers, such as Petra Rudolf, Silvia Rueda-Pascual, and Sara Clavero. In addition to the traditional student visits to research centres, teenagers will be able to visit the CIC nanoGUNE laboratories as part of the Visit to the Nanoworld activity or take marine samples on a Navegavela sailing vessel alongside AZTI research staff. Families will have the chance to go on an informative tour of the geological history of the city of Donostia / San Sebastian through its rocks and landscapes. And, as every year, there will be numerous activities aimed specifically at women over the age of 55, highlighting their role as transmitters of culture. 

The activities in this tenth edition will culminate on 11 February, coinciding with the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, with a festive event at the Donostia /San Sebastian Aquarium. This final gathering will serve to share the results of a process of reflection that has given rise to a manifesto or action plan that will establish the future direction of Emakumeak Zientzian and become the central focus of the celebration.

The full programme of activities is available from today onwards at www.emakumeakzientzian.eus and registrations for the various activities are now open.

The 34 organizations participating in the 10th edition of Emakumeak Zientzian are a representative sample of the Basque Autonomous Community’s science and technology base: Basque Center for Applied Mathematics (BCAM), Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language (BCBL), BCMaterials, Biogipuzkoa, CIC bioGUNE, Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), Elhuyar, EHU Informatika, EHU Kimika, Achucarro, Aranzadi, AZTI, Basque Artificial Intelligence Center (BAIC), Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Biofisika Institutua, CEIT, the Materials Physics Centre (CFM CSIC-EHU), CIC biomaGUNE, CIC energiGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, Cidetec, EHU Faculty of Pharmacy, EHU Faculty of Engineering - Gipuzkoa, EESS Bilbao, Ikerlan, Ingeniariak, Kutxa Fundazioa, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, the Basque Country Technology Park, POLYMAT, Tecnun – University of Navarre, Tecnalia, University of Deusto and Vicomtech.

Emakumeak Zientzian 2026 has the significant support of the Chartered Provincial Councils of Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, and Álava, Fomento San Sebastián, Bilbao Ekintza, the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Ikerbasque, MUBIL and Salto System, as well as the collaboration of the following bodies and organizations: the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), the Spanish Research Agency through the SeveroOchoa and María de Maeztu centers as partners in the initiative, the Basque Film Library and the Donostia-San Sebastian International Film Festival, Biook, Skills4Science, Laboratorium Bergara, Emakunde, Lemniksata, the Directorate for Equality of the EHU, the Aquarium of Donostia / San Sebastian, the San Sebastián Convention Bureau and the Equality Unit of Eibar town council.