The CaixaForum network and CosmoCaixa explore with female scientists the importance of collaboration in solving global challenges

Illustration of the female researchers featured in Retos de ciencia (The Challenges of Science) - Lluís Sabadell Artiga 2022

Atalayar

03 de febrero de 2026 (11:00 h.)

Science that unites, talent that advances

History has taught us that great advances have been achieved thanks to the union of knowledge and joint work between different teams and in different fields. Meeting spaces between scientific disciplines enable the development of knowledge and are now more necessary than ever.

For this reason, on Wednesday 11 February, the CaixaForum and CosmoCaixa network of centres will offer simultaneous meetings at several centres where, in addition to highlighting the importance of promoting the presence and talent of women in all scientific areas, the focus will be on the power of collaborative science and interdisciplinarity.

Once again this year, this initiative is being carried out in collaboration with Science For Change to connect the scientific community with society, highlight the impact of women in this crucial field, and confirm that global challenges require a global perspective to address them.

Below is the programme of conferences distributed by centre.

CosmoCaixa Science Museum

(11 February, 7 p.m.)

The CosmoCaixa meeting, which addresses the challenge of sustainability, will feature two scientists working in the field of materials science:

Eva Pellicer, professor of physics and doctor of chemistry, has been awarded the L'Oréal-UNESCO Prize. She is a leading figure in science, with more than 250 publications and 10,000 citations. Her research focuses on sustainable materials for energy applications.

Anna Laromaine Sagué, PhD in Chemistry and Ramón y Cajal researcher at the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC). Her research, which lies at the intersection of materials science, biochemistry and nanotechnology, focuses on the design of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

The session will be moderated by Rosa Arias, founder and CEO of Science For Change, who holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Barcelona and a master's degree in Energy from Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh).

Due to its eminently scientific nature, CosmoCaixa will also celebrate the occasion with other initiatives, such as the guided tour ‘Women in Science’, which will take place on 11, 14 and 15 February in the museum's Universe Room, allowing visitors to discover the contributions of some women to the history of science, analyse their achievements and understand the real value of gender equality in the advancement of knowledge.

On 14 February, it will also host a family conference to introduce children to the Hypatia project, a series of analogue missions led by women scientists to prepare for research into life in extreme environments such as Mars.

CaixaForum Madrid

(11 February, 7 p.m.)

The conference at CaixaForum Madrid, also focused on sustainability, will feature female scientists from the world of physics and aeronautical innovation:

Cecilia Hernández Rodríguez, a physicist from the Autonomous University of Madrid, is the Director of Programmes and Industry at the Spanish Space Agency (AEE). She is noted for her role as Spanish delegate and chair of the Scientific Programme Committee of the European Space Agency (ESA). She has had an extensive career at the CDTI promoting European R&D&I programmes in nanotechnologies, aeronautics and health, among others.
Silvia Lazcano Ureña, PhD in Chemical Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid with a master's degree in Polymer Science and Technology. With more than 40 years of experience, her career spans organisations such as MAPAHO, CSIC, Construcciones Aeronáuticas, Airbus and Doba Solutions. She is an expert in innovation and a mentor to start-ups, and has been recognised with the Woman and Aeronautics Award, the TEDAE Professional Excellence Award and the Retina ECO Award.

The session will be moderated by Joana Magalhaes, head of Scientific Communication at Science For Change and coordinator of the COALESCE project. She holds a degree in Biology from the University of Aveiro and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the Complutense University of Madrid.

CaixaForum Seville

(11 February, 6 p.m.)

At CaixaForum Seville, experts in climate change, oceans and bioclimatology will speak:

Elena Ceballos Romero, PhD in Applied Physics with a specialisation in ocean biogeochemistry. European postgraduate scholarship from the ”la Caixa” Foundation at the University of Seville in collaboration with the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton. She is currently a professor of Applied Physics at the University of Seville and a researcher in oceanography.
Mónica Aguilar-Alba, PhD in Geography specialising in climatology and remote sensing applied to the environment. Her work focuses on monitoring climate variations and the impact of climate change in Andalusia, with an emphasis on sustainability. Her work is key to estimating water resources, assessing drought risks and considering them in territorial planning, and she has participated in the creation of the CLIMA Information Subsystem.

The session will be moderated by Marine Masson, a policy specialist at SFC and currently coordinator of the PULSE-ART project. After studying political science and obtaining a master's degree in European Politics and Franco-German Cooperation (Sciences Po Strasbourg), she devoted herself to facilitating spaces for dialogue between research, the arts, politics and citizenship.

CaixaForum Zaragoza

(11 February, 6 p.m.)

CaixaForum Zaragoza will host a meeting between two scientists from the fields of chemistry and engineering who will discuss the energy transition to improve our planet:

María Jesús Lázaro, PhD in Chemistry and research professor at the CSIC's Institute of Carbo-Chemistry. Institutional delegate of the CSIC in Aragon and president of AMIT-Aragón.

María Hernando, PhD in Industrial Engineering specialising in renewable energies and energy efficiency. Principal investigator at the Technological Institute of Aragon (ITA) and honorary researcher at Imperial College London, she is secretary of the Board of Directors of AMIT-Aragón.

The session will be moderated by Nora Salas, psychologist and psychotherapist with master's degrees in Social Anthropology and Psychotherapy. At Science For Change (SFC), she is responsible for People and Culture and is a health researcher.

CaixaForum València

(11 February, 6.30 p.m.)

The CaixaForum València meeting will focus on the experience of sustainability from the perspective of agricultural engineering and computer science:

Silvia Rueda Pascual, PhD in Computer Science from the University of Valencia, where she is a tenured professor, researches virtual reality, software engineering and the digital gender gap. She has been recognised with the Sapiens Academic Award for her work on equality in STEM-ICT.

M.ª Dolores Raigón Jiménez, PhD in Agricultural Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Professor in the area of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry. Lecturer at the Higher Technical School of Agricultural Engineering and the Environment (ETSIAMN). An expert researcher in organic farming and its impact on food quality, she is the author of more than 80 articles, 10 monographs and nearly 180 conference papers.

The session will be moderated by Héloise Vilaseca, chemical engineer (École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier - ENSCM) with a master's degree in Chemistry and Food Engineering (IQS). A specialist in food, science and education projects, she has collaborated with the Alicia/El Bulli Foundation and Harvard University as director of the Science and Cooking Course Laboratory, and has been director of the La Masia think tank at El Celler de Can Roca.

CaixaForum Palma

(11 February, 7 p.m.)

The CaixaForum Palma meeting, which will address the challenge of food health, will be led by two leading scientists in the field of public health and nutrition:

Irene Coll Campayo, PhD in Translational Research in Public Health and High Prevalence Diseases from the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). A lecturer and researcher at the ADEMA University School, she is an expert in oral health, nutrition and lifestyles.

Francisca Serra, Professor of Nutrition and Emeritus Professor at the UIB with a scientific career linked to the NuBE Group (Nutrigenomics, Biomarkers and Risk Assessment) at the UIB, the Biomedical Research Network Centre. Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN) and the Balearic Islands Health Research Institute (IdISBa). Her research focuses on the study of the molecular basis for the prevention of obesity throughout the life cycle.

The session will be moderated by Mireia Ros, a specialist in Health and Social Studies at Science For Change. She has a degree in Human and Health Sciences from Loyola Marymount University (California, USA) and a master's degree in Migration Studies (Pompeu Fabra University) and another in International Health and Cooperation (Autonomous University of Barcelona).

Workshop to discover five women who have made history

In addition to the conferences, on different days and around this anniversary, CosmoCaixa, CaixaForum Madrid, CaixaForum Seville, CaixaForum Zaragoza, CaixaForum Valencia, CaixaForum Palma, CaixaForum Girona, CaixaForum Lleida and CaixaForum Tarragona will host the family workshop "Challenges of Science. Great Contributions by Women Scientists," which will test participants' ability to solve certain puzzles that will allow them to learn about the great contributions of women scientists throughout history.

Through experimentation and by encouraging reasoning and critical thinking, the workshop, recommended for ages 8 and up, will introduce participants to five female researchers who revolutionised optics, electricity, magnetism, mechanics and acoustics.

The protagonists will be Mária Telkes, a researcher in solar energy technology; Daphne Oram, a pioneering engineer in electronic sound composition; Leena Gade, the first female racing engineer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans; Annie Easley, an aerospace scientist; and Johanna Weber, a mathematician whose aerodynamic experiments were key to the development of the Concorde supersonic aircraft.