2025/06/16

CIC bioGUNE strengthens its commitment to promoting scientific vocations through Inspira STEAM

The cooperative research center in biosciences, CIC bioGUNE, member of the BRTA, has once again participated in the Inspira STEAM program, an initiative led by the University of Deusto aimed at fostering scientific and technological vocations among primary school students, particularly girls, and at challenging gender stereotypes in the fields of science and technology.

For the 2024–2025 edition, eight professionals from CIC bioGUNE have taken part as mentors: Carlos Ordóñez, Claudia Carrascal, Irati Mitxelena, Jaione Auzmendi, Jana Sendra, Saioa García, Uxue Lazcano, and Victoria Cid Centelles. Their role involved conducting group mentoring sessions at various schools in Bizkaia, where they shared their personal and professional experiences.

Inspira STEAM employs an innovative methodology based on mentoring and collective reflection, structured around six training sessions held during school hours. These sessions address key topics such as gender stereotypes, research careers, and the role of women in the history of science, with the aim of empowering students, boosting their self-esteem, and sparking their interest in STEAM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

The official closing event of the program took place on Thursday, May 29th, featuring the presentation of the edition’s results. This year, the program involved 66 schools and 210 mentors (176 women and 34 men).

CIC bioGUNE highly values its participation in this initiative, which directly contributes to promoting equal opportunities in access to scientific and technological careers, and to inspiring new generations in their academic and professional development. The active involvement of the center’s research staff reaffirms CIC bioGUNE’s commitment to science communication, inclusion, and the advancement of a more equitable, knowledge-based society.

About CIC bioGUNE

The Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), located in the Bizkaia Technology Park, is a biomedical research organization conducting cutting-edge research at the interface between structural, chemical, molecular and cell biology, with a particular focus on generating knowledge on the molecular bases of disease, for use in the development of new diagnostic methods and advanced therapies.

About BRTA

BRTA is an alliance of 4 collaborative research centres (CIC bioGUNE, CIC nanoGUNE, CIC biomaGUNE y CIC energiGUNE) and 13 technology centres (Azterlan, Azti, Ceit, Cidetec, Gaiker, Ideko, Ikerlan, Leartiker, Lortek, Neiker, Tecnalia, Tekniker y Vicomtech) with the main objective of developing advanced technological solutions for the Basque corporate fabric.

With the support of the Basque Government, the SPRI Group and the Provincial Councils of the three territories, the alliance seeks to promote collaboration between the research centres, strengthen the conditions to generate and transfer knowledge to companies, contributing to their competitiveness and outspreading the Basque scientific-technological capacity abroad.

BRTA has a workforce of over 4,000 professionals, executes 22% of the Basque Country's R&D investment, registers an annual turnover of more than 300 million euros and generates 100 European and international patents per year.

Spanish version