Elvira Fortunato, Minister of Science and Technology, on this year’s edition of “Women in Science” preface says: «I believe that the more equal a society is, the more prosperous, fair, diverse and balanced it will be. (…) This is not the same as saying that women are better than men. Rather, it is to assert and demonstrate that women are equal to men in rights, responsibilities and capabilities. I will not give up on making the country, Europe and the world a more equal place for women and men.  I am asking you not to give up either, especially the young students: do everything to achieve what you want and never give up!»

Today we want to congratulate all BioISI female researchers who didn’t (and still don’t!) give up to build a more equitable and inclusive Science by highlighting three of our scientists who have been recognized and are part of that book. Get inspired by them!

I AM A BIOCHEMIST… «but I dedicate myself to molecular and cellular biology in biomedicine, studying the mechanisms of human disease. I’ve always been curious about the natural order of things, and how to act when something doesn’t work. How do molecules “talk” (or not in disease) inside the cell for their perfect functioning? How do they interact at the tissue, organ and human level as an (almost always) effective system? Answering these questions, I try to find ways to repair what doesn’t work.»

I AM A MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST…. «Molecular biology looks at the phenomena of life as a process of information, especially worrying about the mechanisms of living processes. This is something that fascinated me from an early age. Information is power. Power to predict, avoid, modify. To rewrite life. Two fundamental aspects of science are added here – understanding who and what we are and using that knowledge in a useful way, for the benefit of all. And question, always question.»

Watch some photos from this year’s edition of the book launching below (courtesy of Carlos M. Farinha).