Families and women in science travel to Mars thanks to Hypatia and the IEEC
Bringing science and space exploration closer to the public and inspiring female talent in the world of technology are two of the main goals of the Hypatia Mars organisation. Returning to everyday life after the summer holidays has been more fun, educational and “Martian” thanks to two events organised by this association, in collaboration with the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC — Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya).
On 3 September (from 17:30 to 19:30), the educational activity ‘Families Go to Mars’ took place, designed to discover, play and dream about space together as a family.
The event, held at the IEEC headquarters, located at the Parc Mediterrani de la Tecnologia – UPC’s Baix Llobregat Campus, began with an outreach talk about the Hypatia analogue missions, in which a team of women scientists and technologists simulated life on Mars from the Utah desert. Afterwards, there was an afternoon snack with hands-on workshops and fun activities for children, including rocket-building, a Mars re-entry simulation, and creative science games.
The activity, run by teams from Hypatia and the IEEC, uses an experiential methodology adapted for children and has a special focus on encouraging scientific vocations among primary school girls.
Meanwhile, on Friday 5 September, the ‘Women in Technology Day’ was held from 9:00 to 13:00. The event offered a unique opportunity to connect with leading women and inspire female talent in the world of science and technology. Organised by Hypatia Mars with the collaboration of the IEEC and the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), the event took place at the Barcelona Science Park (Baldiri Reixac Street, 15, Barcelona).
The event featured an opening lecture, several round tables focusing on different professional stages—involving a number of researchers and industry professionals—and networking spaces, where experiences were shared.
Both events were free of charge and held in person. While the first aimed to bring science and space exploration closer to families, with a more outreach-oriented nature, the second, held entirely in English, sought to showcase female role models and inspire young women in scientific and technological fields.
About Hypatia Mars
Hypatia Mars is a women-led organisation dedicated to promoting research and outreach about Mars, advancing space exploration and fostering scientific vocations.
The mission of the Hypatia Mars Association is based on three core objectives, each designed to bring space exploration and science closer to society while promoting diversity and excellence in STEM careers. These are: to promote excellence in research on space exploration, to engage society through scientific and outreach activities, and to promote female role models in STEM careers, especially among girls and young women, in order to improve representation and visibility across all fields of knowledge.
About the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia
The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) is a research centre dedicated to the study of space and its applications. Its main objectives are to promote scientific excellence in astronomy, astrophysics and space sciences, to encourage technological innovation in space and satellite missions, and to foster knowledge transfer.
In addition to its scientific and technological contributions, the IEEC plays a key role in showcasing talent and disseminating space knowledge, bringing science closer to citizens.