The event will be attended by Airbus, Navantia and the University of Cádiz, will be guided by the science popularizer Irene Lapuente and schoolchildren from the city members of the Aquae STEM project of the Hydral Foundation will attend

On the occasion of the International Day of Girls and Women in Science next Tuesday, February 11, Hidralia (company responsible for the San Fernando Water and Sewer Service) in collaboration with the City of San Fernando, has organized the 'Futur @s Scientists. The Woman and the Girl in Science ’in which she intends to show female referents from the area of ​​the Bay of Cádiz in the careers of science, mathematics, computer science and engineering (known as STEM) to schoolchildren in the city.

The objective is to encourage the study of these careers, mainly in girls, since different analyzes show that gender differences in these disciplines occur at all levels of education. Upon reaching higher education, women represent only 35 percent of students enrolled in areas related to STEM. That is why the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed in 2015 on February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, in order to achieve full and equitable access and participation in science for women and girls, also to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

In this way, San Fernando joins this day, which increasingly has more activities throughout Spain, with a day that will have the presence of engineers from companies such as Navantia or Airbus as well, as with a researcher from the University of Cádiz .

The event will take place at the Congress Center 'Cortes de la Real Isla de León' at ten in the morning next Tuesday with the inauguration by the mayor of San Fernando, Patricia Cavada and the director general of Hidralia, Matilde Mancha . Then Irene Lapuente (specialized in communication and scientific dissemination and directed by La Mandarina de Newton) will make a small presentation called ‘The ridiculous idea that you don't like Science’.

From there Irene Lapuente will conduct the event to continue with the experience workshop 'I choose Science' in which three STEM women from two important companies located in the area (Navantia and Airbus) and the University of Cádiz, will tell the audience To the act who they are, why they chose their profession and what they do in their respective works, through different experiments. Children when they study science and other technical careers hardly have female models to identify with; That is why, in addition to promoting the vocation of these careers, we wanted to exemplify them with real and close women.

This is how Navantia will attend Elisa Patron, Head of Production Engineering Program Planning and Operational Monitoring; Airbus will participate María Azucena Ares-Gonzalo, responsible for a team that is responsible for the manufacturing process of the side drawer of the A350, its maintenance and optimization, as well as the configuration of the aircraft. Finally, the University of Cádiz will be Clara Pereyra, Professor of Chemical Engineering.

Also participating in the event will be students from IES La Bahía and IES Sancti Petri, in addition to the San Ignacio Eco School, Puente Zuazo School and Vicente Tofiño. These last three centers are precisely participating in the ‘Aquae STEM’ program developed by the Hidralia Foundation, Aquae Foundation, in San Fernando.

This ambitious initiative of the Aquae Foundation has started this course and will be developed in 50 schools throughout Spain, reaching some 2,500 students and a total of 5,000 schoolchildren, adding children. In Andalusia, thanks to Hidralia and its Foundation, there are a total of seven schools that are part of the program, among which are three educational centers in San Fernando. In total, more than 340 Andalusian girls will be reached, from second to fourth grade, to arouse their interest in science through challenges related to sustainable development, and more specifically about the world of water, which they will have to solve using the innovation and creativity as vehicles to inspire them.

Aquae STEM is thus part of the educational and awareness commitment that Hidralia and its investee companies have been materializing in Andalusia for years, with different initiatives such as its Aqualogy program of environmental awareness, literary competitions, drawing competitions, corporate volunteer actions or participation in conferences and congresses, etc.

Aquae STEM is implemented from primary school to promote a culture of analysis and scientific thinking through problem solving and innovation. Various studies show that each time the creation of vocations, the development of divergent thinking and the promotion of creativity is generated at earlier ages. The program incorporates activities using a methodology capable of seducing students to arouse their interest in STEM knowledge while also improving their collaboration, communication and creativity skills.

This is a project that will be implemented in future years in terms of courses and colleges, so if any school wishes to be part of it, or gather more information, you can call 913 621 096 or write to aquaeimpulsastem @ fundacionaquae .org