In Gipuzkoa the second edition of the project was presented aimed at fostering the technological vocation among girls.

The project, promoted by the University of Deusto, with the collaboration of Elhuyar and Innobasque, will be developed in Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia and Araba, under the protection of the three Provincial Councils.

The initiative, a pioneer in the ACBC, aims to promote the scientific-technological vocation among girls, through awareness-raising and guidance actions. These actions are led by women professionals from the world of research, science and technology. For the first time, the group mentoring technique will be used to promote STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) among primary students.

In the presentation of this experience, Miren Elgarresta, Director of Equality of Women and Men of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Asier Perallos, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Deusto, Leire Bilbao, Of Innobasque and Leire Cancio Orueta, director general of Elhuyar.

Last year, in the first edition of the project, 17 women were mentors of more than 200 girls in 11 schools. For this year, 113 mentors, 43 schools and 1,075 CAV students met. In the case of Gipuzkoa, 43 mentors, 12 schools and 20 teams have joined the INSPIRA project.

The INSPIRA project aims to promote scientific and technological vocations among CAPV students and especially among girls. In fact, the number of students who opt for technological education is decreasing year after year. And in the case of girls the data is even more serious. Although 54.3% of all students in the Spanish university system are women, in technical degrees, such as Engineering and Architecture, only 26.4%.

Project keys:

• Offer new referents for women close technologists.
• Let children know the STEAM professions.
• To be aware of the need for men and women to participate in the development of a country.
• Awareness and guidance on technological careers.
• Raise awareness and awareness of the importance of female technologists.
• Publicize existing stereotypes so that they do not condition the choice of studies.

Through these lines, the project managers want to call on schools, researchers and students to join this initiative and thus reinforce among all the scientific-technological vocation of girls.

In this video three girls from a school in Zumaia and Mª Luz Guenaga present the INSPIRA project at the Deusto Research conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc4p42o5R1U

Link to project: http://inspirasteam.net/