The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT) once again joins the commemoration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated every 11 February to highlight the contribution of women to scientific progress and to encourage vocations among girls and young women. This initiative, promoted globally by the United Nations since 2015, advocates for full and equal access to and participation in science and mathematics.

To mark this occasion, ICMAT has organised a range of outreach activities aimed at students and the general public, which showcase the presence and role of women in the history of mathematics. All of these actions are part of the campaign ‘We All Do Science’, promoted by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in connection with 11 February.

Workshop at ICMAT: “Guess Who (Mathematics Edition)”

Image: Íñigo de Amescua/ICMAT

On Wednesday, 11 February 2026, ICMAT will host the workshop “Guess Who (Mathematics Edition)”, an activity aimed at students in Years 8 and 9 (ESO), designed to bring mathematical research closer through an accessible and participatory approach.

During the activity, students will meet women working in mathematical research in person and, through a logic game, will have to deduce different aspects of their professional and biographical trajectories. In small groups, the students will formulate hypotheses based on the researchers’ answers and explanations, with the aim of correctly matching the information to each of them.

The workshop will be moderated and led by María Ángeles García-Ferrero, CSIC researcher at ICMAT and coordinator of the Institute’s Equality Committee.

Scientific demonstrations: “They Shape the Future”

ICMAT will also take part in the event “They Shape the Future”, organised by the CSIC centres on the Cantoblanco Campus, in collaboration with the Espacio Fundación Telefónica in Madrid, where the event will take place. This activity is aimed at students in the upper years of secondary education and sixth form and brings together six scientific demonstrations in different areas of knowledge, led by women researchers.

Among them is Mencía Reborido, a predoctoral researcher at ICMAT, who will experimentally demonstrate various phenomena related to fluids, introducing basic concepts of modelling and explaining the physical and mathematical laws that govern their behaviour.

Talks on Maryam Mirzakhani

Maryam Mirzakhani. Image: Maryeraud9.

Javier Aramayona, CSIC researcher at ICMAT and director of the centre, will give a series of outreach talks focused on the life and work of Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to be awarded the Fields Medal, the highest distinction in mathematics, and an internationally recognised figure in geometry and surface theory.

On 11 February he will be at IES La Serna in Fuenlabrada, and on 12 February at IES Pedro de Duque in Leganés.

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