Amparo López Jiménez

Her spark for science comes from way back: ‘It was my natural sciences, mathematics and physics teachers who taught me that engineers bring science to society.

And then, at the age of 16, I knew: I would be an engineer.’

Andrea González Montoro

There have been many ‘sparks’ throughout her life: ‘starting with a strong scientific curiosity (technological and medical), followed by the brilliant scientists and mentors who have crossed my path, and ending with the motivation that comes from knowing that what we do has a direct impact on improving society. In my case, in the field of nuclear medicine’.

Esther Nebot Díaz

A book, La tabla de Flandes by Arturo Pérez-Reverte, sparked her scientific interest. That is where she discovered conservation and restoration as a profession. ‘I soon realised that restoration required science and that I could combine both vocations, so I decided to change direction and train as a conservator-restorer.’

Itziar Irakulis Loitxate

Being aware of the worrying situation of the planet was the final spark that led her to research and seek solutions to the problems we face: ‘I grew up in a rural environment, surrounded by nature and beautiful landscapes, so to think that human action is damaging all that seems very selfish and unacceptable to me.’

María S. Guillem Sánchez

María’s spark was ignited when she was finishing her degree in Telecommunications Engineering, when she began working on her final project at the age of 23, ‘That’s when I felt that my work could contribute to improving people’s lives. I then saw how important the interaction between technology and medicine is and its impact on those who need it’.

Josefa Mula Bru

Her spark came when she combined her final year project at the Ford plant with his first job at an SME, where, while implementing design, production, logistics, information, quality and environmental systems, he discovered the need to research new modelling approaches and technologies to solve the complex problems inherent in industrial systems. She was 24 years old at the time.

Mónica Tereza Boscaiu Neagu

‘As a child, I used to join my father on botanical excursions, which is why I decided to study biology. That was the spark that ignited my love of science.’ Monica is currently focused on studying the salt marshes of Valencia, the responses of halophytes to climate change and competition with invasive species.

Nuria Chaparro Banegas

When she finished her degree and realised that what she was most excited about was continuing her education, Nuria knew that the spark had been lit. A spark that has been kept alive thanks to finding people at university who supported her, inspired her, ‘and made me feel that research was where I belonged’.

Pilar Soriano Sancho

At the age of just 15, it was another woman who sparked her interest in science: ‘My art teacher at school took us to visit the Faculty of Fine Arts, and when I saw Pilar Roig’s class, I knew what I wanted to do’. She currently focuses her research on conserving heritage and raising awareness of it.

Salomé Cuesta Valera

Her spark was ignited at the Juan de Garay secondary school: ‘We were living in a very special time, with a group of teachers who introduced the content through challenges. We learned French by cooking, or we studied biology, philosophy or history by preparing the topics. At that moment, an interest in knowing more arose, a desire to learn, and that desire still continues today.’

Rosa Porcel Roldán

What is inside a living being? That question, which little Rosa, only 7 years old, always had in mind, was what ignited her spark. Years later, her innocent curiosity led her to become a researcher and help ensure we can continue feeding ourselves with vegetables and greens, even in times of drought.