The IIS Aragón and ASEICA bring the female face of cancer research to the Aragonese classrooms

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, ASEICA has organized the fourth edition of #CONÓCELAS, which this year has given more weight to universities

The Metabolism and Tumor Stem Cells Group of the IIS Aragón, led by Patricia Sancho Andrés, is going to transfer these actions to the Aragonese classrooms together with Rebeca Sanz, researcher in cancer immunomics and biomarkers at the IIS Aragón

From today, until next February 9, talks will be held at various universities and centers in Aragon (Zaragoza city, Sádaba, Daroca, La Puebla de Híjar, Samper de Calanda, Urrea de Gaén and Vinaceite) so that students can get to know women oncology researchers

On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the Spanish Cancer Research Association (ASEICA) has organized the fourth edition of 'CONÓCELAS' to bring science closer to the classrooms of educational centers throughout Spain. Action that the Metabolism and Tumor Stem Cells Group of the IIS Aragón, managed Patricia Sancho Andrés, will be transferred to the Aragonese classrooms.

This activity has The objective is to make women scientists who research cancer visible in a dynamic and interactive way.. “Our goal is for students to discover women in basic, translational and clinical research in oncology: what they are like, how they started, how they guided their career, and how they have become leaders in their fields. “We are proud of the success of 'CONÓCELAS', which in just four years has established itself as one of the most outstanding events to make women scientists and their work against cancer visible,” she says. Marisol Soengas, president of ASEICA. One of the new features this year is to give more weight to older students. “We want to reach more educational centers in person, mainly Universities, since that is where our detectives can better explain and guide about a scientific career and work in a laboratory. 25% of this year's talks will be given in university centers," comment the coordinators of the event and ASEICA-Mujer, Gema Moreno-Bueno y Patricia Sancho (action coordinator and member of the ASEICA board of directors). “We want being a scientist to be a profession that is increasingly closer and more attractive,” they say.

Aragonese Classrooms

To develop this action in Aragon, researchers from the Metabolism and Tumor Stem Cells Group of the IIS Aragón, Together with Rebecca Sanz, researcher in cancer immunoomics and biomarkers at the IIS Aragón, will give various informative talks this week at educational centers in Aragon (Zaragoza city, Sádaba, Daroca, La Puebla de Híjar, Samper, Urrea and Vinaceite).

In fact, on January 29, this action already began in Sádaba, at the CRA Los Bañales, with 40 students from 1st to 6th grade led by Paula Martín. The rest of the interventions, which resume today, will have the following locations:  

• IES Miguel Catalan (Zaragoza), February 5 and 8: Flor Navarro.
• San Jorge University, February 6: Alejandra González. 50 students 3rd year Biomedicine.
• IES Francisco Grande Covián, February 7: 60 students from 1st and 2nd year of Baccalaureate.
• University of Zaragoza, February 8: Paula Martín and Isabel Villaoslada
• IES Miguel Catalan (Zaragoza), February 8: María Blasco
• School Pedro Sánchez Ciruelo in Daroca, February 9: Alba Royo, 55 4th, 5th and 6th grade students.
• CEIP San Jorge and CPI Valdespartera (Zaragoza), February 9: Beatriz Parejo.
• CRA Bajo Martin, 4 presentations in La Puebla de Híjar, Samper de Calanda, Urrea de Gaén and Vinaceite, February 12 and 13: Rebeca Sanz.

Apart from these Aragonese schools, Alba Royo also moves today to the CEIP Gerardo Diego from Soria with a presentation for 88 students from 3rd and 4th Primary.

More than 300 “Detectives” on the map of cancer researchers

Complementing the activity, ASEICA has developed a Interactive map to put a feminine face on cancer research in Spain and abroad. Sorted by Autonomous Communities, information on their research topic and the laboratory where they work is included for each 'Detective', and images of their personal side are also shown. In total, ASEICA has recruited 340 researchers.

Source: IISA AND ASEICA