Cristina Fernández and Lizbet Gutiérrez received their awards on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Once again, the Centro de Investigación Mariña (CIM) of the Universidade de Vigo held the awards ceremony for the fourth edition of the Marie Tharp 2025 competition, an initiative that has become firmly established in the calendar of activities surrounding the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The initiative aims to amplify female voices in the marine field, challenging them to condense the essence of their work into one-minute pieces that combine creativity and scientific rigor.
The event was opened by the director of the CIM, Daniel Rey, who emphasized the need to integrate equality as a structural pillar of the scientific system. “Using the name of Marie Tharp for this award is a way of clearly stating that the science of the present and the future must be fairer, more diverse, and more visible. It is also a message for the new generations. There is room for your talent, there is a path to be walked, and there is a community to support you,” he noted.
One of the central moments of the event was the round table Challenges and opportunities for women in marine science, an intergenerational space that made it possible to compare experiences, identify transformations, and analyze persistent challenges. The discussion featured CIM researchers Ana Ulla, Ayelén Blanco, and Nerea Cazás, together with the director of the Equality Unit of the Universidade de Vigo, Yolanda Rodríguez. Rodríguez congratulated the Centro de Investigación Mariña on the fourth edition of the Marie Tharp Award, noting that it demonstrates a long-term commitment to equality and to making female talent visible. She also highlighted that it is an example of investing in the future and in new generations, as it provides support for younger profiles. “Science needs your voice, ideas, and attitude to move forward toward real equality,” she emphasized.
The dialogue focused on issues that shape the current equality agenda in the scientific field, such as the consolidation of more horizontal and inclusive forms of leadership, the increase in female representation in positions of responsibility, and the obstacles that still hinder access to them. The speakers also reflected on the evolution of the recognition of women researchers over recent decades, as well as on the role played by social networks and digital media in projecting role models, building community, and amplifying results. The discussion was rounded off with a forward-looking reflection on the new generations: how young women at the beginning of their professional careers interpret current models and what changes they expect from a scientific system undergoing transformation.
For her part, the president of the CIM’s Equality and Sustainability Committee, Ana Bernabeu, highlighted the importance of sustaining policies over time. In her view, “equality is not negotiable, stepping backwards is not an option, and science must continue to be a space for progress—not only in knowledge, but also in rights.”
All the participants in the round table agreed that progress is being made in the right direction and that female representation in the scientific field is improving, although many obstacles still remain—especially regarding women’s leadership. They believe this issue must be addressed from an early age, through education aimed at both girls and boys, as well as at families themselves so that they can contribute to this effort. They also emphasized the importance of ensuring that the role models encountered by new generations are close and accessible.
Award-Winning Research for More Sustainable Aquaculture
In the competitive section, six predoctoral researchers presented their audiovisual proposals in this edition. The main prize went to Cristina Fernández, from the PhystoFish group. Her work explores the potential of supplements to improve the feeds used in aquaculture, thereby optimizing the physiological response of fish and parameters such as growth. The research aims to contribute to the design of more efficient and sustainable feeding strategies, aligned with the sector’s current challenges.
The special mention went to Lizbet Gutiérrez, from the XB2 group, who is pursuing an Industrial PhD in collaboration with the company INSATI, focused on mussel predation in the Galician rías and its productive and socioeconomic consequences. The project seeks to move toward intelligent early detection systems that help minimize losses and promote innovative solutions for more sustainable aquaculture.
As is now tradition, the winners of the previous edition were responsible for presenting the awards, in a symbolic handover that reinforces the idea of community, continuity, and support among generations of women scientists.
The financial prize €1,500 per category and €500 for the special mention may be used to purchase computer equipment or to attend conferences, thereby contributing to the professional development of the award recipients.
With the Marie Tharp Award, the CIM reaffirms its commitment to a model of science that is more open, diverse, and socially connected one in which communicating is also a way of building equality.
The CIM has the CIGUS recognition of the Xunta de Galicia, which accredits the quality and impact of its research, and its activity is co-financed by the European Union through the FEDER 21-27 Program.
