As part of the Month of Women and Girls in Science, the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) held Inspírate 2026, an event that brought together girls and young women from educational institutions in Bucaramanga and its metropolitan area to listen, learn, and get closer to the world of science.
The activity, promoted by the Faculty of Sciences and the UIS Committee for Women and Girls in Science, aimed to motivate high school students to become interested in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This was achieved through meetings with female researchers and university students who shared their experiences and research journeys.
The event began with two inspiring talks delivered by Professor Olga Mercedes Álvarez Ojeda, a pathologist and academic vice-rector of UIS, and Professor Luisa Fernanda Mendoza Morales from the Zootechnics program at the UIS Málaga campus.
During her presentation, Professor Álvarez Ojeda encouraged the students to believe in their abilities and to build their future with discipline and perseverance.
“You can achieve any dream you want if you pursue it with commitment, dedication, and discipline. A great scientist grows through curiosity and effort… and with the support of a family that encourages her to keep moving forward,” she said.
Afterward, participants experienced the Science Route, a tour through different spaces on campus where they were able to interact with students, research seedbeds, and research groups.
In total, the activity included 17 stations across the university campus, where scientific demonstrations and activities were carried out by members of research groups and student research seedbeds from various fields of knowledge.
According to Diana Marcela Sánchez Lobo, professor at the School of Biology, the purpose of the event was to inspire students to imagine themselves as future scientists.
“The goal was to motivate high school students, especially girls and young women, to become interested in science and STEM fields through encounters with scientists from the Industrial University of Santander, who shared their experiences, trajectories, and reflections on their path in research,” she explained.
She also highlighted that initiatives like this help make the role of women in science more visible, foster scientific vocations, and bring students closer to the university environment and to the spaces where knowledge is produced.
Throughout the month of March, the Industrial University of Santander will continue to carry out activities as part of the Month of Women and Girls in Science. These events can be followed through the social media channels of the organizing committee.
