In the European Community the interest for promote gender parity in science begins in the 1980s and culminates in 1999 with the formation of the Helsinki group and the publication of ETAN report, in which the data on the participation of women in science is presented for the first time and an action plan is proposed.
In 2001 a group of researchers from different disciplines from the university, the CSIC and the industry founded in Madrid the Association of Women Researchers and Technologists (AMIT) with the following objectives: promote equal access to research activity; raise awareness about situations of discrimination and the mechanisms that lead to it; achieve equal professional opportunities in the public and private spheres; develop recommendations and collaborate with other European and international organizations to facilitate the advancement of women in science; and make the scientists and the results of their work visible” (AMIT’s website).
In 2002, the AMIT was presented in Barcelona and on March 12, 2004 it was established the AMIT node of Catalonia (AMIT-CAT). Currently we are more than 1000 associates to AMIT and 143 to AMIT-CAT. The first meeting of AMIT Catalunya was on April 30, 2004 at the Milà and Fontanals Institution of the CSIC with the presence of researchers from the CSIC, the UAB, the UPC, the UB and the Institute of Oncology.
In this first meeting they discussed and elaborated the objectives of the association: 1/Strategies for equality in the workplace, in professional promotion and in decision-making, 2) social visibility of women scientists and their contributions, 3) promote the leadership of women in science and 4) demand the compliance with legislation in equal participation in courts and commissions.
One of the important issues raised was how to influence the Catalan research institutions to achieve: a) sex-disaggregated data for all scientific and academic institutions, b) equality plans for all universities and research centers.
In this sense, the same 2004 was prepared and presented the dossier ‘Request for integration of European women and science policies’ at IV Catalan Research Plan (PRI) that was being made. This document includes the creation of a Women and Science Commission of the Interuniversity Council of Catalonia that will promote the realization of Equality Plans in all the universities of Catalonia. Currently all Catalan universities, the CSIC and the CERCA centers have Equality Plans and Gender Units/Observatories.
From the beginning we saw clearly the importance of incorporating young researchers to the Association. Thus, activities were scheduled, such as, for example, ‘Scientists to prop’ at the La Monroe bar, where young researchers present their work in a relaxed atmosphere. We have also participated in the ARIADNE Mentoring Program, promoted by Sara Berbel from the General Directorate for Equal Opportunities of the Labor Department of the Generalitat de Catalunya (DGIOT). And lately, in the STEM Conference organized jointly with the Young IT Girls and the Catalan Society of Technology.
With the aim of stimulating the scientific vocation among the youngest students, since 2016 we have convened the Awards for Baccalaureate Research Projects ‘Women, Science and Technology’. Currently this Award bears the name of ‘Montse Novell Award’ in tribute to the colleague who left us in 2021. And continuing with this topic, we must point out the award to AMIT, by the IEC, of the 2018 Cruz Casas Award for the STEM CONTIGO project. The objective of the project was to promote STEM among first and third ESO students through the work of young researchers. These young women, the ‘ambassadors’, received training in gender perspective and oral discourse.
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In addition to intervening in the world of research itself, we also did so in the broader social sphere, participating in denunciation campaigns such as, for example, ‘Not without women’ that he wanted to involve men in not participating in acts where there were no women. We have also participated in radio or television programs where we were asked for our opinion as feminists but also as scientific experts. As an aid and to avoid the argument of a lack of women in these acts or activities, AMIT has created a database with more than 3000 scientists from all specialties.
The AMIT-CAT Association continues, continues to be active, with more members and with more presence and influence at all levels. And despite being aware of all that remains to be done, satisfied with having achieved, as a result of all these years and activities, that women scientists and their work are more visible and considered both in the scientific world and in Catalan society in general. We have contributed to occupying the place they deserve.