INSPIRA is a pioneering project in the Basque Country that seeks to foster scientific and technological vocations among girls. To do this, she carries out awareness-raising and guidance actions by women research, science and technology professionals. For the first time, the group consulting technique will be used in a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and primary school students promotion project.

The pilot phase of INSPIRA, carried out in 2016, has had the collaboration of 17 women who have worked as volunteer advisors. All of them are scientists and technologists and work in teaching, business, research, management, etc.

Thus, more than 200 girls from 11 CAPV schools have participated in 7 work sessions on stereotypes around us, work or women and science throughout history. These meetings between the consultant and the girls aim to solve doubts and overcome barriers around the scientific and technological professions, clarify motivations and reinforce self-esteem to start this profession if they wish.

INSPIRA is born from the need to foster scientific and technological vocations among Basque students and that there are girls among them. The number of students who are committed to technological education falls year after year. And if we refer to the women's collective, the data is even more evident. Although 54.3% of all students in the Spanish university system are women, their presence in technical degrees, engineering and architecture, for example, drops to 26.4%.

INSPIRA is a project promoted by the University of Deusto, which has the collaboration of the Elhuyar and Innobasque Foundation and the sponsorship of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia.

The keys to the project are:

• 1. We want to give new referents to women close technologists.
• 2. Girls and boys want to know the STEAM professions.
• 3. It aims to raise awareness of the need for men and women to jointly achieve the development of a country.
• 4. The aim is to raise awareness and guide technological careers.
• 5. We want to show the value of women technologists before everyone.
• 6. It is about making known the stereotypes we have in society so that they do not generate limits when choosing studies.

We are looking for professional women of science and technology who want to be girl advisors in 2017!

What does it mean to be an advisor?

• Commitment, enthusiasm and desire to transmit the best of our profession to girls.
• 15 hours of free training in three sessions, Friday and Saturday, on “Gender and Technology” and “Advisory Dynamics”.
• Conduct 6 counseling sessions with the center's team of girls for one hour within the school hours. The group will consist of all the girls from the groups of the center, from 8 to 14 years, especially from 6th grade.
• The sessions will take place between September and December 2017, on the dates and times agreed by the center and the consultant.

The University of Deusto offers:

• Training by experts in the field.
• Material with resources and activities for conducting advisory sessions.
• Dissemination of the project and results.
• Accompaniment and follow-up throughout the process.

If you are interested you should fill out this form before March 31.