The great contribution of women in science and cosmetics

Through small but significant actions, women are acquiring a more relevant role in all sectors, breaking both the famous "glass ceilings" and stereotypes. This is also happening in the field of science. According to 11defebrero.org, Women and Science, girls make up 53.1% of students enrolled in high school, although this percentage drops to 47% if we focus on the science track. The same portal cites the lack of women in certain careers dominated by men and attributes this to four main factors: lack of interest among adolescents, lack of female role models, performance and stereotypes in adolescence, and biases in evaluations.The "Women Researchers 2019 Report" prepared by the Spanish National Research Council indicates that in Spain, the proportion of female principal investigators in nationally funded projects was 34.7%, slightly lower than the 35.8% of women in the scientific staff, but low compared to the rest of the projects carried out in Europe.On the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Next In Beauty recognizes the role of women scientists in the beauty industry. We have been able to hear from some of them and they have shared their experiences, reflections, and concerns, telling us about their relationship with the scientific world and why they chose to work in the beauty industry. Carmina Alfonso Application Technology Personal Care & Cleaning Specialties in Zschimmer & Schwarz Spain acknowledges that astronomy had always been her favorite branch of science: "My interest in science is innate, I remember being very curious as a child and loving to read. Perhaps the first thing that caught my attention was everything related to the universe, in fact, Astronomy is still one of my favorite sciences today. In my last year of high school, I was clear that I wanted to study either Physics or Chemistry, but I had serious doubts about which one would win. My final decision to study Chemistry was heavily influenced by my high school chemistry teacher, who made me want to know more and more about it to the point that I had no doubt once I finished high school. Once I graduated, I wanted to try my hand at a Ph.D. because I wanted to find out what it was like to do research, and so I did until the end of 2016 when I defended my doctoral thesis. By then, I had already seen clearly that research was not what I wanted to do professionally." In 2017, she joined Zschimmer & Schwarz Spain and had her first contact with the beauty industry: "I stumbled upon this sector by chance and was captivated by it, as a curious person, I had always read the labels of all the products I used, trying to learn more about the science behind their formulation. Now I can say that I am still learning every day and that I want to continue working in this sector for many more years to come." Carmina affirms that as one scales the scientific ladder, female presence tends to diminish, although this is not the case in the beauty sector: "it is one of the scientific sectors in which I have found the most female presence at all levels," but invites us to reflect on the causes and consequences of women dropping out as the scientific career advancesCarmina Alfonso María Barbero, technical director of Zurko Research also declares that since high school, she realized that she had a special predilection and interest in chemistry. "In high school, I was always passionate about chemistry classes with my teacher Paco Rojas, in which I felt very comfortable, even though he was quite demanding. When I got home, I read those impossible names that made up the composition of shampoos, creams, and gels, and fantasized about someday understanding everything that each word meant." Later, she studied pharmacy and was very clear that she wanted to specialize in cosmetic science, as she explains, her relationship with the beauty world has been a lifelong love. "When I started pharmacy, the first elective I chose was dermopharmacy, with Professor María Jesús Lucero. At that time, my parents couldn't understand why I would choose such a "frivolous" subject as dermopharmacy while studying pharmacy. The real wake-up call came when, without having finished the degree, I enrolled in the cosmetic master's degree at CESIF. Nowadays, I am extremely proud to belong to this industry, which I am passionate about and challenges me. I still have to explain to some friends that cosmetics is a multidisciplinary science that accompanies us in our daily lives, with everyday products. It is a sector with a pure scientific basis and predominantly composed of warrior women who, like me, feel empowered to belong to one of the most powerful sectors in our country," María Barbero explained to 'Next In Beauty'.María Barbero María Galán is another scientific woman who stands out in the Spanish cosmetics industry, as well as being an expert in regulatory affairs. Maria believes that science chose her, as she sees it as something innate that has accompanied her since she was a child. "My choice was natural, since in the distribution of gifts, logic, and problem-solving ability were granted to me, which, in fact, serves me to compensate for my limited and selective memory," joked Maria Galán. The regulation expert has shared with this media outlet her extensive experience in the sector: "With more than 20 years of experience, I consider the moments in which I have felt disregarded to be punctual and not representative. I have worked in factories and laboratories in many countries, counting on the trust and protection that the company provided me with." She admits that it has been in certain areas and countries, which stand out for their cultural differences, where her credibility and legitimacy as a scientific-technical professional have been diminished: "In Dubai, during a technical-regulatory mission, although better coordinated with my colleague, especially during certain formal meetings. Also in Mali, during a humanitarian mission to manufacture soaps and ointments, within the framework of a ministry project for the protection and development of women, by the technical maintenance team of the facilities, with less knowledge but more rights... without managing to curb our desire to progress," shared Maria Galán.María Galán in Mali Anna Gallego, Ph.D. R&D Manager of Vytrus Biotech • Anna Gallego, R&D Manager at Vytrus Biotech, has also shared her experience with 'Next In Beauty', and affirms that her interest in science was something that was born with her: "I have always shown a great interest in science. Since I was young, my favorite subjects were those that awakened curiosity to know more about the world around us, about new technologies (of that time!) and about health." However, she said that she grew up expecting to find female role models as she studied, but her tenacity, perseverance, and persistence helped her to overcome this: "the lack of female role models in scientific and technical careers during my childhood and adolescence was an important fact, since inevitably you look for someone similar in whom to see yourself reflected and at that time I did not find her. Once inside, you see that there are many women in the same situation, and this also ends up stimulating. So much so, that I finally ended up doing a doctorate on what I liked the most." Gallego has also taken advantage of her contribution to indicate that the cosmetics industry is a way of visualizing women in the scientific-technical sector, and values these types of spaces to give visibility to the figure of women in science: "it is important that women have a media space in science and especially make these spaces reach the youngest, in this way we consolidate the changes and we get the generations that follow us to be much more empowered".Ana Gallego Vytrus Biotech Irene Zaldivar (PhD, MBA. CEO In ADParticles): To Irene, the first thing that comes to mind when asked about science is a word: future. For her, science means anticipating new challenges that will allow for continued growth and evolution. Like the other protagonists in this article, she recognizes that she was also passionate about science as a child: "I had a curiosity, even a need, to understand how things work. Mainly, what has always interested me are topics related to health and the human body. After graduating with a science degree, my vocation led me to do my doctoral thesis specifically on gene therapy against the HIV virus. It was a very enriching stage that has marked my career, on the one hand, developing critical thinking, and on the other, using creativity to find solutions." Irene Zaldivar has shared her professional experience in science: "After several years dedicated to basic research, the time came to take the step towards applied research, which led to the natural transition to the company. I have been working in the cosmetics industry for over fifteen years now. For the past three years, I have been leading the company Advanced Dispersed Particles, a project that motivates me especially since it is a successful case of technology transfer." Irene believes that education is a fundamental aspect for the younger generations to continue to be interested in science and to promote critical thinking: "Investment in the education of the younger generations is key, both to advance in issues of wage and gender gaps, and to train critical thinkers who will be able to face future challenges which, most likely, will be more complex than the current ones and will allow us to continue advancing as a society." Irene Zaldívar

The great contribution of women in science and cosmetics

'Next In Beauty' commemorates the 'Day of Women and Girls in Science' with 5 women who stand out in the Spanish beauty sector