Valparaíso, February 16, 2026. — As part of its agenda of activities for the current year, the Network of Aquaculture and Fisheries Research Institutes of the Pacific Alliance (Red IIAP-AP) held the webinar “Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Science” last Thursday, February 12. The meeting established itself as a high-level space for exchanging experiences and sharing common ground regarding the gender gaps that persist in marine scientific research across the region.
The discussion panel featured prominent researchers and academics representing leading scientific institutions from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru:
- Lic. Ailin Monti | National Institute for Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP), Argentina.
- M.Sc. Andrea Angélica Araya Arriagada | Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP), Chile.
- Dr. Luisa Fernanda Espinosa Díaz | “José Benito Vives de Andréis” Marine and Coastal Research Institute (INVEMAR), Colombia.
- Dr. María Teresa Gaspar | Mexican Institute for Research in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (IMIPAS), Mexico.
- M.Sc. Sarita Campo | Marine Institute of Peru (IMARPE), Peru.
Networks and Institutional Transformation
During the forum, the experts analyzed the current landscape of female participation in the sciences, agreeing that while there is a gradual shift toward greater inclusion, critical challenges remain in achieving parity in management positions and leadership of strategic projects.
The panelists emphasized that creating collaborative networks is the most powerful tool for breaking institutional “glass ceilings.” Likewise, local experiences aimed at fostering scientific vocation from childhood were shared, highlighting projects that involve girls in ocean-related environmental research, thus ensuring a sustainable future for marine sciences.
Regional Commitment
The exchange of views allowed for the identification of common gaps in the region and the proposal of more robust institutional policies. For IFOP, the participation of M.Sc. Andrea Araya reaffirms the institution’s commitment to the National Policy for Gender Equality in Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation (CTCI).
With this activity, the Red IIAP-AP reaffirms its role as an articulator of a more equitable scientific ecosystem, where female talent serves as the engine for fisheries and aquaculture innovation throughout Latin America.
