Dones de Ciència (Women in Science) pays tribute to the researcher and scientist communicator Conchi Lillo

The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) today unveiled the first of the murals for its 'Dones de Ciència' project for the 26/27 academic year. The mural pays tribute to Conchi Lillo, a researcher from Huelva, a lecturer at the Faculty of Biology at the University of Salamanca and one of the country's most renowned figures in scientific dissemination. Created by the artist Udane Juartisti "Udatxo" (Azkoitia, Gipuzkoa), it is located at the IES Enric Valor secondary school in Picanya.

"It's marvellous, absolutely stunning. For me, being part of this project is a real gift. I never would have imagined having a mural. It's one of those things you see in other people you admire enormously and think, 'What a marvellous initiative!', but you never picture yourself painted in such a grand style in a secondary school playground. It's a huge honour that I'm still coming to terms with. I was able to follow its progress through the photos Udane was posting while the mural was coming to life, but seeing it in person has been overwhelming," said Lillo, visibly moved.

The mural's central figure is a portrait of Conchi Lillo, accompanied by a large eye in shades of grey – a visual reference to her research into vision. Udatxo combines intense blues and a yellow-and-orange stripe with the warm tones of the face and the blacks, whites, and greys of the eye. The loose brushstrokes and splashes of colour bring movement to the composition, which uses the two planes of the wall to link the researcher's portrait with her field of study.

"It has been very rewarding for me to be part of this project, as it highlights the work of women, both in the scientific and artistic fields. And that has really motivated me. Furthermore, I believe that creating art in schools is very beneficial for pupils, as it brings art nearer to them. Moreover, through this project, I've been very lucky to learn more about Conchi and her outstanding work," says Udatxo.

A role model for the pupils

"This mural is not simply a work of art that we're unveiling today. It's a role model that we're leaving for our pupils. Every day, as they face this wall, our pupils will have the chance to remember that science has names, faces and stories. And that behind every discovery there are women who one day asked themselves a question and decided to seek the answer, even knowing that there would be many obstacles along the way," said Miriam Lorente, headteacher of IES Enric Valor in Picanya.

During the event, pupils at IES Enric Valor were able to learn first-hand about some of the highlights of Conchi Lillo's career, as well as a few anecdotes and her most immediate challenges. "Our pupils have been able to get to know her a little better and ask her questions. And this is the best bridge we can build between science and education, because behind every question lies curiosity. And behind curiosity there may lie a calling," added Lorente.

For her part, Conchi wanted to convey a "very important message" to all the pupils: that whatever they do or whatever they choose to dedicate their lives to, they should do so with passion and to improve their own lives and those of others. And that when they face the mural, they should remember that this desire to learn can take us many places, "until I see you every morning, boys and girls, on the other side of Spain".

Adela Cortina and Montserrat Calleja, the next women in science to be honoured

The Dones de Ciència project at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) began in February 2019 with a mural dedicated to Margarita Salas on the façade of the UPV's rectorate building. Since then, this initiative has combined urban art, scientific dissemination, and education to raise the profile of women in science and bring their career paths closer to younger generations through murals in schools such as the IES Enric Valor.

Conchi Lillo's mural is the first of this academic year and the 51st in a project that will continue to grow throughout the year with new murals, paying tribute to figures such as the philosopher Adela Cortina and the physicist Montserrat Calleja, amongst others.

And, once again this year, the project will receive support from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

About Conchi Lillo

Conchi Lillo (Minas de Ríotinto, Huelva, 1973) is a biologist and holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Salamanca, where she is a Senior Lecturer in Cell Biology. She carries out her research at the Castile and León Institute of Neurosciences and the Salamanca Institute of Biomedical Research. She studies the visual system and diseases that can cause blindness, such as age-related macular degeneration. She combines this work with scientific dissemination to bring knowledge about vision to the general public.