Where are the STEM women?

I propose an exercise: try to visualize an expert in web analytics and Big Data, a robotics professional or, if you prefer, a reference in the field of blockchain. Do you have it? What image comes to mind? Possibly that of a Silicon Valley whiz kid under thirty, in a sweatshirt and sneakers, or that of a serious scientist in a white coat. In any case, always the image of a man. Am I wrong?

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Well, here we have a problem. Yes, because it means that we still haven't overcome the stereotypes that make us think that scientific professions or engineering are a man's thing. We don't see women, and consequently, women don't see themselves either. And this is especially serious because technology plays a central role in our lives and STEM profiles ---the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics--- are leading the economic and social transformation in which we are immersed.

Barcelona has become, this past week, a meeting point for female STEM talent, thanks to the STEM Women Congress, a working day that I had the pleasure of presenting together with journalist Cristina Riba. I left totally convinced that we must make a collective effort (company, administration, school, family...) if we want to increase the female presence in the STEM sector.

Barcelona has become, this past week, a meeting point for female STEM talent, thanks to the STEM Women Congress

The media, decisive in creating role models, have a lot of work to do. For example, in the context of the 2008 economic crisis, propelled a handful of economists to the category of referents: Xavier Sala i Martín, José María Gay de Liébana, Gonzalo Bernardos, Santiago Niño Becerra or Guillem López-Casasnovas were in the media day in and day out. All men, do you realize?The collective # OnSónLesDones does not tire of denouncing it.

Now, the same thing is happening with the doctors and researchers who speak in the media every day to talk about the covid-19 pandemic. Except for Dr. Magda Campins, head of Epidemiology at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, I believe that the rest of the coronavirus experts who appear in the media are all men: Dr. Oriol Mitjà, Dr. Antoni Trilla, Dr. Salvador Macip, Dr. Bonaventura Clotet, Àlex Arenas ...

We must make a collective effort (company, administration, school, family...) if we want to increase female presence in the STEM sector

If you think I'm exaggerating, I recommend you go to Palau Robert to see the successful exhibition Feminista tenías que ser and you will see how deeply rooted sexism is sociallythat often goes unnoticed. Hopefully, you will also leave with the conviction that this is a struggle of men and women for the benefit of all society.