The ETSi brings together leading women in science and engineering at the Opening Day of the ARCyTAN program 2024-25

The Higher Technical School of Engineering (ETSi) of the University of Seville hosted a Round Table yesterday entitled “Women Leaders of NASA, the Energy of the Future, and Modern Industry”, framed within the ARCyTAN project (High Performance in Science and Technology in Andalusia) which since 2015 has worked with high school students from all over Andalusia, giving them the opportunity to come to the Center regularly to receive pre-university guidance, scientific-technical workshops, technological visits, etc. 

Moderated by Sara Gómez Martín, director of the Women and Engineering Project of the Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain, this meeting brought together top-level professionals such as Elisenda Bou, founder and Chief Technology Officer of Vilynx, an Artificial Intelligence company within the APPLE group and professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia; Elizabeth Córdoba, Engineer and Project Leader at NASA (Mars2020 and Europa Clipper) at JPL (California, USA); Mª Ángeles Martín, founder and president of Skylife Engineering, a leading company in the aerospace sector, and professor at the University of Seville; and Eleonora Viezzer, Lead Researcher of European Nuclear Fusion Projects (ERC Starting Grant and ERC Consolidator Grant), and professor at the University of Seville. 

The experts discussed very current topics such as the increasing participation of women in scientific and technological projects; their presence in all areas of large companies and institutions; as well as the need to continue carrying out actions to promote STEM vocations, in which boys and girls from an early age can find role models. 

Their extensive and prolific careers in science and engineering served as a point of reference for the large audience in attendance, whose life stage is in the years leading up to decisions about their university and professional futures. The audience was enthusiastic to learn about the steps that have led them to the professional positions they enjoy today. 

Likewise, they all emphasized the importance of students freely choosing their academic future without gender constraints, which should also become their passion and way of life 

During the afternoon, and prior to the panel discussion of the experts, the Science and Technology Olympiad took place, in which more than 140 high school students, with an average grade of 9 in their studies, took a test of scientific and technical knowledge to be selected and become part of the new group of students of the ARCyTAN 2024-25 program.

After the test, a total of 35 young people will have the opportunity to get to know the Center and its scientific and technological activity during a decisive year for their university future. 

The ETSi (School of Engineering) is launching this program with the main objective of bringing the studies offered at the School, the university environment, and the field of engineering closer to secondary school students in Andalusia. Through this initiative, the ETSi aims to foster young people's interest in this area of ​​knowledge, so crucial for boosting the region's socio-economic activity.