Second Edition of “AImaginar Mujeres en STEM” Inspires Future Women in Science
On Wednesday, January 21, the Instituto Milenio iHEALTH held the second edition of “AImaginar Mujeres en STEM,” an interactive event that brought together 20 high school students at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile’s San Joaquín Campus. Organized in collaboration with PAR Explora RM Sur Oriente, the Instituto de Ingeniería Biológica y Médica UC (IIBM), the Facultad de Matemáticas UC, and the Instituto de Física UC, the activity aimed to bring young women closer to STEM disciplines through hands-on experiences and meetings with women researchers, this time delving into specific applications of physics, mathematics, and engineering in the field of health.
The day began with an introductory talk by iHEALTH members Dabne Barrera and Isabella Bratti, who welcomed the participants to discuss their academic perspectives and the challenges women face in STEM areas. The groups then rotated through a series of workshops and guided tours. At the Instituto de Física UC, Dr. Hilda Buzzó showed the Medical Physics laboratories and the projects they are developing in radiotherapy and biophotonics. In parallel, the Facultad de Matemáticas UC presented the Abstracta UC exhibit with interactive activities such as the Towers of Hanoi and Penrose tiling.
At the iHEALTH Central Hub, the young women learned about the 0.55T MRI scanner from equipment manager Ignacio Celis and participated in a magnetism workshop with UC Doctorate in Medical Sciences student Laura Manjarrés and iHEALTH engineer Marie González. Subsequently, they explored the Quantitative Physiology Laboratory with Dr. María Rodríguez from the Instituto de Ingeniería Biológica y Médica UC and Alternate Director of the Center for Research in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS-RTC), while iHEALTH students Laura Parra and Sofía Farfán explained the operation and applications of physiological sensors and artificial intelligence.
Feedback from the participants reflected the success and impact of the experience. They highlighted the clarity of the explanations and the welcoming atmosphere, with comments such as: “They taught us many things and explained everything very well, and they were always attentive to us” and “the people who attended and gave the talks were very nice.” They also especially valued the interactive and motivating nature of the activities: “I liked it so much, it also motivated me a lot to continue getting involved in the STEM area. I feel the way the workshop was conducted was very fun and really made us interested.”
With this second edition, iHEALTH and its partner institutions reaffirm their commitment to reducing the gender gap in science and technology. By offering a space for practical exploration and direct dialogue with women scientists and engineers, the initiative not only sparks curiosity but also validates and nurtures early vocations, building a concrete bridge so that more young women can envision themselves as the innovation and health leaders of tomorrow.
