The IFCA celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with talks, comics, films and coffee
This Sunday, February 8, the deadline for submitting the comic contest dedicated to scientists investigating eclipses ends.
On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which is commemorated on February 11, the Institute of Physics of Cantabria (IFCA, CSIC–Universidad de Cantabria) organizes throughout the month a program open to all audiences, with educational activities ranging from cinema and drawing, to talks with researchers from different disciplines. All with several points in common: talking about science, making visible the role of women in research, and awakening scientific vocations among the youngest.
The proposal starts on February 11 with the lecture series Athenawhich will take place at the Ateneo de Santander and also in online format, with free entry until capacity is reached. The first talk, The Earth is becoming too small: why space is back in fashionwill be led by Laura Castelló Gomar (IFCA). The cycle will continue February 18 con Is depression different between women and men?taught by Fuencisla Pilar Cuéllar and Julia Senserrich (IBBTEC), and will conclude the February 25 con Quantum computing and cryptography: bad news, but also good news!by Ana Isabel González-Tables (UC3M). All sessions will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and can be followed live through the Ateneo’s YouTube channel.
‘Woman and Science’ film series
Furthermore, the IFCA promotes its usual film cycle at the Cantabria Film Library Mario Camuswith free screenings until capacity is reached and presented by institute staff. The cinematographic tour includes Women on Mars (February 12, 8:00 p.m.), Interstellar (February 13, 7:00 p.m.) and a children’s session with Big Hero 6 on February 15 at 5:30 p.m. This initiative proposes, every year, a journey through stories linked to science and knowledge, highlighting female references.
The programming is completed with the Scientific Cafe he February 27 at the Café de las Artes, at 7:30 p.m. (coffee and pastries) and 8:00 p.m. (start of talk), where Cristina González Haro (ICM) will give the talk The sea from the sky: science to monitor the health of the planetalso with free entry until capacity is reached.
On the shoulders of GigantAs
Within the IFCA dissemination focused on educational centers, the cycle “Expanding science”aimed at Primary and Secondary students, emphasizes two talks for this February 11: On the shoulders of giants y Women in Science: the focus of cinematwo talks that bring together the historical contribution of great scientists, especially in astronomy, and analyze the role of women researchers through film and television, encouraging reflection on stereotypes and showing the diversity of scientific disciplines.
IX Comic Contest
As part of the 9/11 activities, the IFCA convened last December the IX IFCA Comic Contest “Scientists investigating eclipses”aimed at students from Cantabria studying ESO, Baccalaureate or Basic FP/CEE. The contest invites you to create a comic, in paper or digital format, whose central theme is the life of researchers dedicated to the study of eclipses and astronomical phenomena, taking advantage of the solar eclipse that will take place on August 12. The participation period ends on Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.. The winning works and finalists will receive a VIP visit to the IFCA with a demonstration of the portable planetarium, a special edition CASIO calculator Women in Science, and the publication of the finalist comics in a school agenda.
Caption: Main image: 11F IFCA 2026 Programming. Text image: Detail of the talk Women in Science: the focus of cinema.
