The University of Alicante has celebrated the International Day of Women and Girls in Science with two research workshops for students from IES Las Lagunas in Torrevieja. The initiative aims to make the role of women in science more visible and to encourage young people to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The first workshop focused on the cultivation and isolation of microorganisms from the salt lakes of La Mata and Torrevieja. It was led by Professor Rosa-María Martínez-Espinosa and Professor Carmen Pire-Galiana, who are part of a research team studying microbial biodiversity in the area under a collaboration agreement between the university and Torrevieja Town Hall. Students learned how to culture microorganisms and extract their pigments and DNA.

A second session, delivered by Professor María-Luisa Molina-Gallego from the University of Murcia, explored the isolation and cultivation of dental pulp stem cells. Pupils were introduced to their potential applications in biomedical research, offering a practical insight into real scientific work.

The workshops form part of the University of Alicante’s wider outreach programme in Torrevieja, designed to bring research and knowledge transfer closer to the local community and to promote gender equality in scientific fields.