On April 30th at 5:00 p.m. (Spain), the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana (International Iberoamerican University, UNIB) will host an online conference as part of the “ItineraSteam+, Rural Science Fair” project, funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology, Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (MICIU)—in which the university is also participating—with the aim of reflecting on the participation of girls and women in science and technology and analyzing the cultural, educational, and communicative challenges that still persist in these fields.
The event is held in collaboration with the Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) , the Universidad Europea del Atlántico (European University of the Atlantic, UNEATLANTICO), the Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana de México (International Iberoamerican University of Mexico, UNINI México), the Fundación Universitaria Internacional de Colombia (International University Foundation of Colombia, UNINCOL), the Universidade Internacional do Cuanza (International University of Cuanza, UNIC), and the Universidad de La Romana (University of La Romana, UNIROMANA).
This event will mark International Girls in ICT Day, which is observed on the fourth Thursday of April every year. The session will feature internationally renowned experts who will discuss, from various perspectives, the development of STEAM careers, the role of artificial intelligence, and the importance of inclusive language in digital environments.
The opening remarks will be delivered by Dr. Raquel Fernández Cézar (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha), coordinator of the “ItineraSTEAM” project, who will share the approach and lessons learned from this initiative, which aims to develop community-based STEAM curriculum projects in areas experiencing severe depopulation, with a special focus on girls and promoting learning environments connected to local realities and traditional knowledge.
Raquel Fernández Cézar holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Sciences and a Doctorate in Sciences (Chemistry) from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and is a tenured professor in the Department of Mathematics Education. Her research career includes more than 50 publications in indexed journals and the leadership of national technology transfer projects with a gender perspective.
The next speaker is Dr. Carolina Escudero (University of Missouri), professor, researcher, and consultant specializing in communication and social studies. She will present her book “Mediating Imperfect AI” and, drawing on her academic experience, discuss the challenges of generating knowledge in historically male-dominated fields, as well as the connection between emotions, journalism, and artificial intelligence.
Finally, Dr. Luisina Ferrante, program director at Wikimedia Argentina, will discuss the development of gender-neutral language online, with a special focus on “Wikipedia,” the free encyclopedia. Drawing on her experience in education, human rights, and open knowledge, she will share insights into how content is produced, what biases are perpetuated, and what strategies can contribute to more equitable representation.
The discussion will be moderated by Carol Olona, a journalist and editor with over 15 years of experience in international media outlets, such as BBC World Service and Bloomberg News, who is recognized for her work in visual storytelling and audience-centered content strategies.
The conference is free and open to anyone interested in the topic, and will be broadcast live on FUNIBER’s YouTube channel. See the broadcasting schedules here.
Registration is required to participate: