The President of the Government of Spain visits the 2nd Girls' and Women in Science Fair
President's News - 2025.2.10
Madrid
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, together with the Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports and Government spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, during the visit to the II Fair of Girls and Women in Science (Pool Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes)
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, accompanied by the Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sport, Pilar Alegría, visited the 2nd Girls and Women in Science Fair, in which a dozen educational centres from different regions of the country took part.
The president was able to see projects on DNA extraction, interactive ecosystems and a seismograph built using recycled materials. Over 120 girls and boys were able to visit the Fair held in the hall at the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport.
The participating schools this year were:
- Cristóbal Colón Primary School from Benetuser (Valencia)
- Bertomeu Llorens y Royo Primary School from Catarroja (Valencia)
- Padre Juan Mariana Secondary School from Talavera de la Reina (Toledo)
- San Antonio Primary School from Yeles de Toledo
- Palomeras-Vallecas Secondary School from Madrid
- Padre Juan Mariana Secondary School from Talavera de la Reina (Toledo)
- Jorge Manrique Primary School from Ciudad Real
- Ramón y Cajal Secondary School from Valladolid
- Consaburum Secondary School from Consuegra (Toledo)
- San Isidro de Azuqueca Secondary School from Henares (Guadalajara)
- El Santo de Alcázar Primary School from San Juan (Ciudad Real)
- Consaburum Secondary School from Consuegra (Toledo)
- Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT)
After a tour, Patricia Martínez, Industrial Engineer and founder of the Kennis Project, introduced the youtubers ValPat, Valeria Corrales and Patricia Heredia. They talked about their experience as science communicators, reviewing some of the experiments they carry out and explaining how technology can help us live our lives. They also held a LED race in which some of the students present and the Minister for Education herself took part.
Then it was the turn of the sportswomen Carolina Marín and Irene Schiavon, with whom Patricia Martínez talked about sport and science. "You are our inspiration, the inspiration of a future generation," she asserted.
"I have always felt that women have had fewer opportunities than men historically. This is a reality; the first woman to go to university was just over 100 years ago. I want to be a reference point in a small world; it is very important to pursue what we like doing," said Schiavon.
Group photo during the II Fair of Girls and Women in Science | Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la Bellacasa
The former international rugby player explained the science of rugby, both in terms of throwing and kicking. She gave a demonstration of this in the hall at the Ministry. "It's all science; the more science you know, the better." "I encourage boys and girls to play sport; it takes your mind off things, you get some fresh air and you think better," she asserted.
In turn, Carolina Marín spoke of the difficulties involved in playing "a very minority and unknown sport in Spain", circumstances that "make things much more complicated". She has encouraged everyone to fight for what they want: "If you don't take risks, you don't win. Who would have thought that a girl from Huelva would break the Asian dominance in a sport that is so popular in other countries. I have gained so much experience and values in my life that, for me, I have already won."
The Girls and Women in Science Fair is an initiative run by the Ministry that is part of the STEAM Alliance for Female Talent, of which over 150 entities and institutions from all over the country are members.
Non official translation
