MSCA Conference speakers - Luciana Ayciriex
Luciana Ayciriex has a undergraduate degree in International Relations, Master's Degree in International Cooperation, Public Policy Management and Development Programs and Projects and a Master’s Degree in promotion and management of international R&D projects and activities.
WIth 16 years of professional experience in managing international cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and interdisciplinary programmes and projects between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, Luciana Ayciriex was in charge of the management of more than 20 European Union-funded projects. She also has a strong experience in proposal writing and international consortia building. Among other tasks, she provided advice to the Latin American scientific community on funding opportunities, and she has designed and implemented training programs on participation in European programs and project management.
She has worked with national and international institutions, promoting the articulation between main actors responsible for Science and Technology policy, and supported the Political Dialogue on STI between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union by participating at the EU-CELAC Senior Officials Meetings on STI.
Currently, Luciana Ayciriex works at Europa as Senior Consultant in Innovation Management in the framework of the EU-funded project.
She will take part in the 2022 MSCA conference, in the first workshop on gender equality in science.
A few more words
Yolanda Ursa speaks about her work and her participation in the conference.
Introduce yourself briefly. What are you currently working on?
I’m the director of innovation management at . Our team has been developing projects related to science, technology and
innovation on a European and international level for more than 25 years. I’ve participated in more than 30 research and innovation projects financed by different European Commission programs, which has allowed me to carry out work I truly feel passionate about. I’ve coordinated numerous international teams of researchers, companies, public sector representatives and civil society. Contributing to improve public-private partnerships to look for solutions to global challenges has always motivated me to work in science, technology and innovation.
One of the conference workshops will be dedicated to the gender equality, why does this topic matter to you?
My work in research and innovation projects involves a strong commitment to diversity and gender equality. The percentage of women researchers worldwide is certainly very low (less than 30% according to the United Nations), and despite the advances made in recent years, women are still not adequately represented in science, technology and innovation. But the most worrying aspect is that as we move up the academic ladder, women are less represented. For instance, in the European Union, women board leaders in research and innovation represent about 24.5% (data from the European Commission’s “She Figures 2021” report). This demonstrates that gender inequality in science is not very different from what we see in companies and society in general.
Luciana and you are participating in the Gender STI project. What are its implications and what achievements has it already brought about?
As scientific coordinator of the project I´m committed to breaking gender barriers and helping young women scientists advance in their careers. GENDER STI analyzes gender equality in science, technology and innovation in bilateral and multilateral dialogues between Europe and third countries. The project brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists and innovators from Europe (Spain, Finland, Portugal, Austria, France and Italy) and third countries (Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, India, South Korea and China). Collaborating with this many countries is essential to advancing gender equality from different perspectives
Collaborating with this many countries is essential to advancing gender equality from different perspectives.
Our investigation is being conducted along the three objectives of the EU gender equality strategy in R&I: gender equality in scientific careers, gender balance in decision-making and the integration of the gender dimension in R&I content. To achieve our objectives, we apply design thinking methods for data collection in all phases of the project.
GENDER STI policy-relevant findings are based on a continuous mapping study on STI international cooperation agreements (including bi- and multilateral agreements, memorandums of understanding (MoU) and STI implementation activities, such as calls for proposals, rules for participation and evaluation criteria), alongside a survey on gender equality implementation in STI agreements and in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders in Europe and third countries.
Some of the first highlights of Gender STI can be found on the .
What advice would you give to young MSCA scientists to address this issue in their scientific career?
I would encourage all women and especially young MSCA scientists to pursue their dreams, and tell them to never give up.
I would encourage all women and especially young MSCA scientists to pursue their dreams, and tell them to never give up. Trust in your capabilities and take advantage of every opportunity to be what you want to be in your career, such as deciding to pursue science. Additionally, we need a global commitment to overcome cultural barriers and gender stereotypes that attribute certain roles and values to women, which is something that happens in scientific careers. That’s why it’s important for science leaders, both men and women, to work together to help young women scientists advance in their careers.