The Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau) and the Tibidabo Amusement Park have signed a collaboration agreement to promote the dissemination of gender-focused research and encourage scientific vocations among the young, with the central theme being the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in February 2025. This agreement demonstrates the shared commitment of both entities to promote a more equitable society aware of the importance of science and the role of women in this field and to drive a project that combines science, gender perspective, fun, and outreach.
The kickoff of this collaboration will be a fun-science day focused on disseminating gender-perspective research at Tibidabo on July 20. It will be the first of three preliminary days aimed at generating awareness and anticipation, culminating in the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 9, 2025.
Science with a gender perspective
IR Sant Pau is the only Catalan research institute with a transversal gender program. The main objectives of this strategic program include breaking gender bias and democratizing the role of girls and women in science; highlighting the importance of research on diseases that particularly affect women; correctly identifying symptoms based on gender; including a gender perspective from the early stages of research; making visible the role of women in the field of research; encouraging their participation in both scientific and outreach activities; and inspiring scientific vocations among girls and young women.
For its part, the Tibidabo Amusement Park, known for its dedication to educational and solidarity projects, collaborates with various entities to highlight missions of significant social impact. In this context, the park is an ideal place to raise awareness of IR Sant Pau’s work among families.
Vocational interests among girls
Many girls dream of becoming researchers or scientists when they are young, but many abandon this dream during adolescence. The main causes include the lack of close role models, the presence of gender stereotypes in society – also present in schools – and a drop in self-esteem during teenage years, particularly pronounced in girls, which leads many to discard certain careers from their future plans.
IR Sant Pau aims to contribute to this cause by offering materials and content to make the importance of gender perspective in health visible, showing the various initiatives being worked on in this regard, and fighting against misinformation while contributing to equity.
The story: Mariona’s great adventure
The project will revolve around the story of Mariona, an inquisitive and curious 8-year-old girl in the third grade. She has many friends at school and shows great interest in the world of science. During recess, she loves going outside to enjoy the fresh air and play with her friends.
Mariona is very observant, and when she was younger, she loved doing experiments by mixing liquids and many things. Now that she is older, she still loves experiments but is determined to investigate how the human body works inside. In short, Mariona wants to be an ‘expert experimenter.’
Mariona has a special skill. She has the superpower of being the most curious girl in the world. When she grows up, she wants to be a researcher, do experiments all day, and thus be able to find answers to all her questions. With her discoveries, she wants to cure diseases and save many lives!
When she was younger, she spent the day playing with experiments with her friends, but it’s increasingly difficult for her to find playmates. Now she wants to help her friends rediscover the excitement, enthusiasm, and strength to become the scientists they dreamed of being. She will ask for help from all the boys and girls visiting Tibidabo during the outreach days to help her friendS regain the excitement, enthusiasm, and strength to become the scientists they dreamed of being.
Families can help her activate the main vital organs and experience with her the adventure of getting to know the brain, heart, muscles, and blood in depth, which will be activated during the July 20, September 21, and November 24, 2024 sessions, culminating in a celebration on February 9, 2025, where Mariona and her friends will once again be expert experimenters.
Activities for all ages
During the three preliminary days and the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, various scientific outreach activities will be held, led by Sant Pau scientists: talks, workshops, and colloquiums, as well as fun activities for the little ones, such as our giant scientific puzzle. All with a gender perspective.
If you want to learn more about the project and access the program for July 20, you can visit the website: https://www.recercasantpau.cat/tot-el-que-has-de-saber-sobre-el-programa-tibidabo-2024/
A park committed to education
The agreement with IR Sant Pau reinforces the Tibidabo Amusement Park’s commitment to education and the promotion of scientific vocations among students, especially young women. Throughout the year, the park transforms into a scientific testing ground for the celebration of Fisidabo, which in its last edition brought together more than 2,100 fourth-year ESO and baccalaureate students from 58 schools. Additionally, Tibidabo offers educational proposals, such as the CreaTibi by Lego Education space, where boys and girls can experiment with robotics and science.
