"LIP celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with an inspiring event bringing together different generations of scientists from the ATLAS group."
Last Tuesday, February 11, the TTC Auditorium at LIP-Lisbon hosted a special celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, proclaimed by the UN to recognize and promote gender equality in science.
Under the theme "Who are the LIP women in the ATLAS experiment at CERN? - A Generational Meeting", the event brought together researchers from different backgrounds and generations who have contributed and continue to contribute to one of the world's largest scientific projects: the ATLAS experiment at CERN's LHC.
The session featured Amélia Maio (founder of the ATLAS group at LIP), Patricia Conde Muiño (coordinator of the ATLAS group at LIP), Inês Ochoa (researcher), Beatriz Pereira (PhD student), Carolina Costa (master’s student), and Ana Henriques (former coordinator of TileCal ATLAS at CERN). These women shared their experiences, challenges, and achievements throughout their scientific careers.
The meeting addressed not only scientific and technological advancements but also gender equality issues and the challenges women still face in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). According to global statistics, women make up only 33.3% of researchers worldwide, making it crucial to promote inclusion and diversity in this field.
A particularly significant moment of the event was the reflection on the impact of motherhood and balancing personal and professional life in a scientific career. The researchers shared the challenges of managing family responsibilities with the demands of high-responsibility and ambitious roles.
In addition to the enriching discussion, participants recalled how female presence in science has evolved over the decades. In the 1990s, for example, only 10% of researchers in CERN collaborations were women. However, numbers have been increasing, and female participation in some LIP collaborations now exceeds 40%.
The event was a space for sharing, inspiration, and commitment to equal opportunities in science. Diversity brings new perspectives, innovation, and talent to scientific communities, and LIP continues to work to strengthen the presence of women in research.
The celebration was open to the public and was streamed online, allowing more people to follow this moment of recognition and encouragement for future generations of scientists.