Aquona's Aquae STEM program and its foundation, the Aquae Foundation, is launching its second edition with a remarkable novelty: monthly webinars will be organized with leading women in the world of science. The objective of this educational program is to promote interest in scientific careers among students from 2nd to 6th grade of Primary at educational centers in Castilla-La Mancha and Castilla y León.

One of the great problems that girls of this age face in joining STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is the lack of female references in these fields. In this sense, Aquae STEM will bring the students of the schools in which Aquae STEM is already developing the experiences of Spanish engineers, mathematics, biotechnologists or computer scientists monthly to awaken their interest in these disciplines.

Irene Lapuente, physicist by training and specialist in communication and scientific dissemination, will be the host of these webinars. Irene is the founder and director of La Mandarina de Newton, a company that "combines" science and technology with disciplines such as art or design.

“We are currently experiencing major changes, but until now, female characters in children's novels, movies or series normally existed in relation to a male figure and their lives lacked their own dreams or ambitions. That makes it difficult for girls to identify with strong roles and, little by little, their imagination fills with options that place them in the background. It is important to see that women have been involved with math, science, engineering or programming forever. It is necessary to meet current women who have fought for their dreams because that encourages girls to do the same and not to let themselves be overwhelmed by the dreams of others or not to lose their confidence in themselves ”, highlights Lapuente.

"Scientific awakening" in times of Covid.

Aquae STEM, which was launched at the end of 2019, closed the previous edition with the participation of 2,500 girls from 2nd to 4th Primary from schools throughout Spain, which will be joined by the 5th-year students during this new year. of new schools that have joined the program.

In Castilla-La Mancha, the Don Quijote, Miguel De Cervantes, Pérez Molina and Ferroviario schools of Ciudad Real and the Diocesan school of Albacete will continue to participate. In Castilla y León, it will be the San José de Zamora, City of Buenos Aires and Tello Téllez de Meneses schools in Palencia, CRA Cerecedo in León, a city in which CEIP Gumersindo Azcárate also joins the program this year.

The arrival of the coronavirus has not interrupted the development of Aquae STEM, which has continued to train with online sessions, both girls, who during confinement carried out the 3rd phase of this project from their homes (online challenges based on finding sustainable solutions to water-related challenges using a programming language); as well as the teachers involved.