24/03/2025

Women in Science: 'Inspiring stories', say students.

“It’s a documentary that shows the story of different researchers, but all with many experiences in common. It was very motivating to watch. It showed that our journey can be marked by many challenges, but that if they succeeded, we can too,” said IMPA master’s student Mishel Zhinge, after watching the documentary “Women in Science”, shown this Thursday (19) at the institute. The initiative is an action of IMPA’s Institutional Communication and marks International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8.

The one-hour documentary gives voice to the journeys of remarkable women committed to scientific production in Mato Grosso do Sul. In the film, scientists, professors, students, and administrators share the challenges, fears, victories, and motivations for pursuing scientific careers. The documentary aims to foster support, investment, and recognition for women in the field.

The screening was followed by a discussion between researchers Carolina Araujo (IMPA), Cintia Diallo (State University of Mato Grosso do Sul), Lucas Verão, director of the documentary, and André Mazini, general coordinator of the Mais Ciência program. “The great thing about making this documentary was seeing how these stories intertwine. We even structured it as a conversation: one person speaks, then another chimes in, showing how the stories intersect, and you understand that, despite each person having their own story, they are intertwined. Although each has their own version of the story, they all end up going through the same situations, so this is a much bigger problem,” highlighted Lucas Verão.

In Cintia's view, one of the characters in the documentary, the work was an opportunity to "materialize, above all for girls from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, the possibility of becoming a scientist, researcher, or professor with a doctorate. As a Black woman, daughter of working-class parents, if I had seen a documentary like this 25 years ago, I think I would have done much more. So, I believe it is an incentive," the researcher pointed out.

In a conversation with the audience, Mazini explained that the production prioritized diversity and was motivated by the discrepancy between the number of women at the university and in leadership positions in the Ministry of Health. “We had indicators showing that women were the majority in almost all aspects of the university. Among those entering the university, those graduating, those producing articles, professors, in short, everything, but this pyramid narrowed towards leadership positions. These positions were beginning to be occupied more by men. Answering this question was very important.”

Carolina Araujo emphasized the changes achieved in recent years. “I see the new generation in a very positive light. I think people are looking at this issue in a much more courageous way. I'm happy about that,” highlighted the IMPA researcher.

The roundtable discussion concluded with a look at the importance of public policies to encourage women's entry and retention in academia, ensuring diversity in the environment.

“It’s wonderful that there are people concerned with sharing these stories. It was very good to hear from these researchers; it helps us to keep going and to believe that we deserve to be exactly where we are,” said Francisca Aguayo, a Chilean master's student at IMPA.