Sara Gallegos, ‘scientific morra’: “It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, studying a scientific career is possible, and I want more women to know”

One of the problems with certain technological materials is that they are not very moldable or flexible, which limits its use in different applications. Graphene, on the other hand, is flexible, which allows to manipulate, bend it and modify it in many ways, and that makes it ideal for technological applications. In my research, what I did was take a sheet of graphene, stretch it to see what properties I acquired, and then contract it to observe other effects. The objective was to understand how this could be applied in the field of electronics and in more tangible, not so abstract technologies. And that’s how I worked on my research during the Bachelor.

Wired: I would like you to tell me more about your projects in the mastery. You mentioned that you are working on the representation of women in science, and you also told me that you are investigating artificial ethics and intelligence, in addition to something related to electrophysics. Could you tell me more about that?

Sara Gallegos: In my mastery, each subject implies more than only exams; Each becomes an opportunity to investigate. A key project was the analysis of gender biases in physics textbooks, a topic that led me to present my work in Norway and the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen. In the mastery, textbooks remain an essential tool, but I discovered that they also transmit values ​​and biases. I found that, in many cases, women in science are mentioned superficial or presented as “the wife of …” instead of highlighting their achievements. For example, Marie Curie often presents himself more as Pierre’s couple than as the outstanding scientist she was. It is essential to make these biases visible, because textbooks not only report on physics, but also reflect a culture of exclusion. Through this research, I realized the need to talk about the representation of women in science. Sometimes I question whether I have to address these issues for fear of demotivating others, but I think it is essential that new generations raise the voice about what is not right. Using our platforms to inspire and create a support network between women in science is crucial.

In my case, in the degree we were only two women in my generation, and I realized that many times we lived similar experiences without knowing if they were isolated cases or a common pattern. By participating in a congress only of women in physics, I understood that what we lived was somewhat more generalized in science. Therefore, it is vital to talk about these issues, share our experiences and support new generations so that they feel safe and do not let fear or stereotypes prevent them from following their scientific passions. The platforms we have are an opportunity to offer them a support space, where they can ask questions and feel accompanied, especially if they do not have that close support.

Wired: If you could choose one or two perceptions of science or scientific women that have changed them in society, what would they be?

Sara Gallegos: I think the ideal would be that we did not have to be presented as “scientific women”, but simply as scientific. Although today it is important to make it visible to generate a change, in the end what we really want is to be able to do science, carry out our research without biases or obstacles, and have the same opportunities as any other partner. The barriers and limitations we face, although sometimes they are perceived as small, weigh greatly when we live them in our own flesh. Often, who do not experience them directly do not see them, but for us, that we do live them or when talking with other companions, their impact is evident. I would like these obstacles to be eliminated and that the initiatives of institutions and universities really take this issue seriously. Many times they address it superficially, promoting the idea of ​​”women in science”, but without a real change in the structure. For example, in areas such as biology or chemistry, although there are a greater number of women, the environment is still dominated by a macho system. I think it is essential to change this perception and, above all, generate a structural change that supports scientific women in a genuine way.

Wired: In a world saturated with information, how do you get the scientific dissemination that you exercise so often accessible, attractive and friendly?

Sara Gallegos: I think the key is to find a balance, and each person does it in their own way. Some do it with stand up, others with stories, memes, or even small sketches. The beauty of dissemination is in that creative freedom that allows us to communicate knowledge in a unique way. What unites us to the disseminators is our passion for science and the desire to share it so that it is not boring or monotonous. We want it to arrive in an attractive way, to hook.