NOVA Vice-Rector, Professor Elvira Fortunato, joined Barbie to launch the “Girls in Science powered by Barbie” programme.
This partnership was created within the scope of Dream Gap, a global initiative that seeks to combat inequality and positively influence the women of tomorrow. It will offer a student enrolled in the 12th year of schooling in Portugal a scholarship, worth € 3,000, to join any Science and / or Technology course at NOVA School of Science and Technology.
To participate in the contest, the students will have to develop an innovation and creativity project that will help them answer the question “How could you change the world through Science?”, which should be sent to an email created for this purpose, until the 30th of June.
Applications will be analyzed by a panel of judges composed by Elvira Fortunato, Sara Marçal, Mattel's Manager Market Developer, and Rosalia Vargas, President of Ciência Viva, who will be responsible for the selection of 10 finalists. On July 5, the students will be invited to present their idea to the jury, who will evaluate them through the creativity and feasibility of the proposal, and on September 20 the big winner will be announced.
Visit the initiative’s site to know all the details:
https://www.barbiemeninasnaciencia.pt/
“Even though there is already a parity between men and women in the area of scientific research, when we talk about top positions, we still see some discrimination. The best scientific opportunities continue to be offered, mostly, to male individuals”, says Elvira Fortunato regarding the role of women in Science.
The researcher leads the Portuguese team participating in the European project SPEAR - which aims to promote gender equality in Academia and Research.