Leonis biotechnologist and reserve astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA), Sara García Alonso, said this Friday, March 8, that despite the “significant lack” of women in space-related professions, today, “there is still much to do, we are closing the gap.
Space is a “very cross-cutting” field, where many profiles are involved, “like mine, as a team leader at the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO),” the molecular biologist explained at an event. ESA Day in collaboration with Spain.
Through this event, ESA has participated this Friday in the 'Madrid Es Ciencia' science fair, one of the largest science dissemination events in Spain, which brings together scientific talents from the region, academic centers, institutions, innovative companies and universities every year.
The event, which coincides with International Women's Day, highlights the role of women in the space industry, where their talent is recognized as much as men's, says Sarah Garcia.
“When I applied for the position of astronaut, I saw that it was a requirement to have a science degree and speak English,” he said, “and it was like a revelation for me: I discovered that I could do my work in the laboratory with great views. .”
He recalled that in the selection process of nearly 23,000 candidates, less than 25% of the applicants were women, but eighteen months after the blind process, ESA selected 8 women and 9 men, he stressed.
“Years ago there was a significant lack of female astronauts because it was believed that we weren't good for it,” but today there are 22 active men and 16 women at NASA and 14 men and 9 women at ESA. The gap is narrowing, he said.
Supported by a young audience looking for a career, Garcia explained that the importance of space exploration has a huge impact on knowledge, inspiration, economics and global cooperation.
“Science performed on the International Space Station – unique thanks to microgravity, allows experiments to be carried out that are completely different from those performed on Earth and have implications in all fields: regenerative medicine, cancer, new materials, nutrition….”
“Eye on the Moon”
But above all, the main motivation is that “humans are explorers by nature”. “As humans have made it clear that the sky is no longer the limit, our vision is set on the Moon (Project Artemis) as a springboard to reach Mars later,” he concluded.
For her part, Eva Villaver, director of the Space and Social Office of the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), highlighted the importance of art and literature in science and scientific careers, especially among girls, who are particularly underrepresented.
Madrid Science Fair
Along with ESA, another center participating in the Science Fair in Madrid today is the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), which has selected more than 700 scientific experiences for academic centers and the general public.
The advertising space of the general science system and the “Museum Island” space contains many workshops related to different areas of knowledge such as geography, nuclear energy, physics or food.
In one of them, equipped with virtual reality glasses, the public can travel back in time and become the assistant of Nobel laureate Santiago Ramón y Cajal, discover the properties of liquid nitrogen or engage in secret negotiations with the master. Philip II and the Ottoman Empire maintained in the 16th century.
