Scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians making a difference

Women have played a fundamental role in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, being key figures in some of the most important discoveries throughout history. From Marie Curie, winner of two Nobel Prizes and her study of radioactivity in medicine; and Lise Meitner, an Austrian scientist whose work in physics led to the discovery of nuclear fission, a key finding in the development of nuclear energy; to Katherine Johnson, known as the 'human computer' and a key figure in the early years of American space exploration. Curie, Meitner, and Johnson are some of the women who paved the way for new generations of women in STEM. These are figures who, in many cases, have not received the recognition they deserved.

To continue promoting and recognizing the talent of new generations of women in this field, CaixaBank has been organizing the WONNOW Awards together with Microsoft since 2018, aimed at female university students completing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics degrees.

Fortunately, the presence of women in STEM fields continues to grow. In this regard, and more recently, molecular biologist and researcher from León, Sara García, marked a great milestone in Spanish astronomy by being named by NASA as the first Spanish astronaut to participate in training at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) of the European Space Agency (ESA). Having female role models in the STEM field is essential to highlight the role of women in these disciplines.

 

In the Spain’s education field, women represent 54% of the total number of students enrolled in universities. However, when we look at STEM degree classrooms, we see that the percentage of women is particularly low: 13% in Computer Engineering, 23% in Telecommunications, 36% in Mathematics, and 27% in Physics.

Aware of this reality,  CaixaBank and Microsoft aim to promote diversity and actively contribute to reducing the gender gap in these disciplines with the WONNOW Awards. In its latest edition, the initiative broke its own record again with a total of 1,078 applications submitted, a figure that quadruples the participation data of the first year, when 272 candidates applied. In its seven editions held, more than 4,800 students have applied for the awards, consolidating it as a reference call in the STEM field.

Breaking the glass ceiling in STEM degrees

According to data from the 2023 Labor Force Survey, collected in the latest report by the Women, Science, and Innovation Observatory, in that year, 64% of new jobs directly related to STEM disciplines were occupied by women, reflecting the upward trend of female presence in these disciplines. However, their participation in emerging technology sectors is still minimal. The same report also revealed that in 2023, 61.3% of companies in the ICT sector did not employ any women, and only 28.8% of the staff in innovative companies are women, mostly in less visible support roles.

Role models for new generations

Carlota Armillas was the winner of the first edition of the WONNOW Awards and has been the only Spanish woman to win a scholarship from the Bill and Miranda Gates Foundation in the last 15 years.

Paula Calderón, another winner of the first edition of the Awards, joined CaixaBank after the scholarship and later joined the National Cancer Research Center.

Fátima El Baghdadi, winner of the second edition of these awards, also won the Globant Awards 2020 in the "Rising Star" category of the Globant Awards 2020: Women That Build.

All of them, as well as the other winners of all the editions of the WONNOW Awards, have broken barriers and are already role models for new generations, who can see in them an example of discipline, perseverance, resilience, effort, and sacrifice, ingredients with which one can achieve whatever they set their mind to.

Winners of the last edition of the WONNOW Awards.