International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Carmen Delgado and Andra Blaga are researchers in the AI-Driven Systems group at i2CAT. Carmen studied Telecommunications Engineering and pursued a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering and a PhD that she completed in 2018. She is currently the leader of the Integrated Sensing and Communications (ISAC) research line at the Catalan centre. Andra, who is part of the i2CAT staff as a predoctoral researcher, completed a degree in Telecommunication Systems Engineering in 2022, after which she completed a master’s degree in Advanced Telecommunication Technologies (MATT) at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

In this interview, they reflect on their university years, their incorporation into the labour market, the women technologists that inspire them, and the steps being taken to combat the gender gap still present in the ICT sector.

What made you decide to study a technical career?

Andra Blaga: Mainly, the job opportunities offered by the technology sector, as well as my curiosity for the digital world and my training in the technological baccalaureate, which allowed me to see what I liked and what I excelled in.

Carmen Delgado: Ever since childhood, I have been fascinated by understanding how things work and finding solutions to real-world problems. In high school, I was passionate about mathematics, physics, and technology, so I always knew that my path would be in science or engineering. Finally, I opted for Telecommunications Engineering because it had excellent job opportunities. It was even said that companies hired students before they finished their degrees.

What was the reality you encountered at the faculty regarding the gender of the student body, and what did this reality mean for you?

A.B.: Of my degree, out of about 40 people per class, only 5 or 6 were women. Although it did not affect me negatively or prove to impede me from integrating or developing my studies, I did notice the low female representation in the field. However, I got along well with all my peers, regardless of gender.

C.D.: In the faculty, the percentage of women was remarkably low. This was nothing new; I expected it because I could already see which branches each profile was oriented towards in high school. So it was no problem for me. Ultimately, you have to adapt to the circumstances of each moment. Although the atmosphere with the teammates was very good, it is true that among the few girls who were there, we formed a close-knit group to support each other, and we are still very united today.

Did you have women technologists in mind to inspire you before and during your career?

A.B.: No, I did not have references at that time. But, as I progressed in my career, I became aware of the importance of making more women visible in technology.

C.D.: Before I entered university, no. Back then, the visibility of women in science and technology was not like it is now. However, during my undergraduate studies, I learned the story of Hedy Lamarr, which profoundly impacted me. Her story was even more fascinating than other scientists because she was a woman in a male-dominated field.

Who inspires you nowadays?

A.B.: I consider Sara García Alonso, the first Spanish female astronaut, a model. Her trajectory inspires me to continue pursuing my dreams and overcome gender barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields. It motivates me to think that, someday, I can also be the first woman to achieve something significant in my field. In addition, I come from a family where women have been the ones to get ahead and have shown great strength, further strengthening my determination to follow this path.

C.D.: Every day, I admire more and more all the women who have fought to make science and technology more accessible to us, those who worked tirelessly without recognition and those who, simply because they were women, were denied opportunities. However, although we have come a long way, there is still a long way to go. The fact that we still need this kind of initiative to increase visibility shows that the struggle continues.

How did you project your professional future while you were studying?

A.B.: I knew the career would be challenging but rewarding, as it offers many job opportunities and reasonable remuneration. My projection was to achieve professional and economic stability.

C.D.: I have always been interested in teaching but initially imagined working for a large multinational telecommunications company. However, my final year project, within a European research project, changed my perspective. I discovered that I was passionate about research and decided to try it in the academic world, even though I knew it would not be easy.

Thinking about your passage through university and incorporation into the labour market, did you experience any discrimination or difficulty due to your gender?

A.B.: No, I did not experience discrimination in my university education or my labour market insertion. I felt respected and valued in all the places where I worked or studied.

C.D.: Fortunately, in my case, I have not suffered discrimination either at university or in the workplace. However, I have witnessed unfair situations towards other women because of their gender, although fortunately, they are not the norm.

Do you think there have been significant advances in recent years to close the gender gap in the technology sector? In universities, research centres…

A.B.: There has been progress, especially with initiatives and programs that seek to promote the inclusion of women in technology professions. In Catalonia, for example, according to the last ‘Dones en les TIC’ report from the Observatori de la Igualtat de Gènere (Institut Català de les Dones), women represent 34% of the total occupation in the ICT sector. It is an improvement because it is the highest figure in the last seven years, but, on the other hand, the female presence in university and FP studies linked to technology is less than 10%. We are gradually achieving greater equality in the sector, but there is still a long way to go.

C.D.: No doubt about it. When I studied at university, there was no International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11F). It is a great initiative to make our role in technology and research more visible. Hopefully, it will not be necessary to celebrate this day in the future because equality is already a reality, but until then, these actions will still be essential. In addition, including a gender perspective in grants and projects helps reduce the gap and forces organisations to reflect on their figures and implement concrete actions to improve equity.

How do you think the female perspective contributes to technical research projects?

A.B.: The female perspective offers a diversity of approaches, more creativity, and greater sensitivity when addressing problems and designing solutions. Integrating different points of view can enrich research and lead to more comprehensive projects tailored to various needs.

C.D.: Diversity in research teams is key to generating more innovative and inclusive solutions. The female perspective brings new ways of approaching problems, different experiences and a greater sensitivity to certain aspects of technological design, such as accessibility and ethics. In addition, having women in scientific projects helps to create references and inspire future generations.

What would you tell a girl considering studying a technical or technological career?

A.B.: I would tell her not to be afraid to follow her passions, not to be influenced by gender stereotypes and that if she is interested in technology, she can be a great professional. Technology is at the service of everyone, and we need diverse voices to make it more inclusive and accessible.

C.D.: Go for it without hesitation! I would tell younger Carmen, who was undecided about what to study, to go for it. If she is passionate about something, she has to go for it. We can achieve anything we set our minds to, even more so when driven by passion. In addition, today, there is more support and networks for women in STEM, and many women scientists are making their work visible and doing outreach on social networks, helping to break stereotypes.