Does science have gender? by Fátima Afonso ( INETE, Portugal)

 

Does science have gender?

Apparently it seems to be happening nowadays. This preponderance of male scientists in science-related positions led the UN to define February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2016. This day has the great aim of marking gender equality in Science. For 15 years, the community has tried to increase the number of women in science and contribute to parity.
Throughout the OECD, Portugal stands out as an example, with 57% of Portuguese students choosing scientific courses, against 39% of the average. A significant fact, but it should not be surprising, since, in the general context of the country, it is also women who achieve the best academic rankings, far above male colleagues.

Not so long ago, and even in some communities and contexts, women were excluded, seen as elements who would not be able to exercise such a profession; received less funding than male counterparts. Being a woman in science does not mean the same as it did in the past. I believe that, thanks to the women who fought to be known in the past, today others can easily be recognized.
Here are some Women Scientists who became known in the field of science.

Branca Edmée Marques (1899-1986) was a student at the Faculty of Sciences of Lisbon University and was a scholarship holder, in the 1930s, at the institute created by Marie Curie in Paris. Despite the honorable work, her career in Portugal was adverse. Only in 1966 did she reach the chair, at the age of 67.

Branca Edmée Marques

Seomara da Costa Primo (1895-1986) graduated in Historical-Natural Sciences, in 1919, at Lisbon University. She worked until 1942 as a second assistant in Botany, receiving her doctorate in that year. Despite the great experience acquired over those years and having been the first extraordinary teacher hired in college, she would not reach the top of her career.

Seomara da Costa Primo

 

Elvira Fortunato (1964 -?) Currently, she is Full Professor at Universidade NOVA, Vice-Rector of NOVA and Director of the Materials Research Center at the Associated Laboratory. She graduated in Physics and Materials Engineering in 1987, with a PhD in 1995 in Microelectronics and Optoelectronics. She received a Czochralski Medal for Materials Science from the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Blaise Pascal Medal from the European Academy of Sciences. She was distinguished with several National and International Awards, among which the title of Doctor Honoris Causa in 2009 by Galati University stands out and the degree of Grand Officer of the Order of Infante D. Henrique o Navegador granted by the President of the Republic of Portugal in 2010. She is an elected member of the European Academy of Sciences since 2016, and of Lisbon's Academy of Sciences since 2017.

 

                             Elvira Fortunato