Cancer researchers from IIS Aragón visit educational centers in the community on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

• The activity is part of the 'Conócelas' initiative of the Spanish Cancer Research Association (ASEICA), which seeks to give visibility to the work of these professionals and promote scientific vocations among students.

Nine researchers from the Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón) have participated in the 'Conócelas' initiative, which has connected in person or virtually more than 300 scientists in the field of oncology with more than 20.000 students from all corners of Spain on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This is a project of the Spanish Cancer Research Association (ASEICA) to give greater visibility to researchers of this disease, break stereotypes and promote by their example scientific vocations among young students as a future job opportunity.

Patricia Sancho, Beatriz Parejo, Marta Mascaraque, Alba Royo, Pilar Espiau, Paula Martín, Isabel Villaoslada, María Blasco and Rebeca Sanz are the main researchers, predoctoral, postdoctoral and laboratory technicians of the IIS Aragón who have spoken with 4th, 5th and 6th year students of Primary, 4th of ESO and 1st of Baccalaureate from different Aragonese schools, located in Zaragoza (IES Miralbueno and IES Clara Campoamor), Cuarte de Huerva (CEIP Foro Romano), Híjar (IES Pedro Laín Entralgo) and Daroca (CEIP Pedro Sánchez Ciruelo), as well as with Biotechnology and Chemistry students from the University of Zaragoza.

“We are very happy because every year we reach more schools, institutes and even universities, but we will continue working to generate new scientific vocations and to bring science closer to the students and society in general. We believe that there is a lot of ignorance about options and professional opportunities in the field of oncology and we want the impact of this initiative to be greater and greater," says Patricia Sancho, principal researcher of the 'Metabolism and cancer stem cells' Group at the IIS Aragón and coordinator of this event in the community and nationally. “Our intention is that 'Conócelas' offers a dynamic and different vision of the importance of work in a laboratory that, in the case of ASEICA, aims to improve the health of cancer patients,” she adds. Aragonese researchers from the oncology field who work in other centers also participate in the event.

To complement the activity, ASEICA has developed an interactive map to put a female face on cancer research in Spain and abroad. Sorted by autonomous communities, information about her area of ​​study and the center where she researches is included for each 'cancer detective', and personal images beyond work in the laboratory are shown.

As in the last edition, the Merck Health Foundation and ASEICA collaborate to reward the researchers and educational centers that are most involved in 'Conócelas'. Specifically, the II Merck Health Foundation-ASEICA Awards for the promotion of scientific vocations will recognize 40 researchers with leadership workshops and support for other professional development skills. In addition, three educational centers will be awarded: primary and secondary education as in 2022, and a university that stands out for its participation.

About the Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón)

The IIS Aragón is the Health Research Institute formed by the “Lozano Blesa” and “Miguel Servet” University Hospitals, Primary Health Care, the University of Zaragoza and the Aragonese Institute of Health Sciences. The objectives of the IIS Aragón are to bring together basic and applied, clinical and health services research; create a quality research, care and teaching environment that integrates health professionals, training specialists and postgraduate and undergraduate students, as well as constitute the ideal place for attracting talent and the location of large scientific-technological facilities.