11F 2026 - International Day of Women and Girls in Science

​​María Montserrat Capdevila d'Oriola (1905 Cabestany – 1993 Barcelona) Spanish mathematician

I was a mathematician at a time when women’s access to university education was the exception rather than the rule. In 1924, I entered the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Barcelona, where I earned my degree in Exact Sciences in 1928 and later began my doctoral studies in Madrid. That same year, I started my teaching career, eventually becoming the first Spanish woman to teach mathematics at university level.

I obtained several professorships, working in different institutes, and was able to further my studies at the Sorbonne in Paris thanks to a grant from the Board for the Extension of Studies. Although the Spanish Civil War interrupted my research career, I remained devoted to teaching until my retirement.

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Sabine Ladstätter (1968 Klagenfurt –2024 Klagenfurt) Austrian classical archaeologist

I was an archaeologist with an academic and scientific career closely linked to Ephesus, becoming the first woman to lead its excavations. From my early studies in Classical Archaeology to leading Austria's largest excavation abroad, I devoted my career to understanding Roman and Byzantine cities, cultural heritage, and the people behind the material remains.

I was elected Scientist of the Year in 2011 in Austria and in 2014 I won the science book of the year. I was also a corresponding member of the German Archaeological Institute, the Archaeological Institute of America and in 2023 I was admitted to the circle of full members of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Beyond research, teaching and scientific outreach were a priority for me. I firmly believed that archaeology should reach everyone, not just the academic community.

Luz Rello Sánchez (1984 Madrid)  Spanish researcher and professor in early detection and support for dyslexia

I am a researcher and professor working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, language, and education. I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was ten years old, an experience that shaped both my personal life and my scientific vocation. Since then, my work has focused on understanding how technology, especially machine learning and natural language processing, can help detect and support people with dyslexia.

I founded the social enterprise Change Dyslexia to bring research out of the lab and into society, creating tools like Dytective, used by private individuals as well as educational centers. In 2013, I became the first Spaniard to receive the European Young Researchers' Award, and in 2019, Change Dyslexia received the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa Prize. I firmly believe that dyslexia, which affects a large number of individuals and is often undiagnosed, is not related to intelligence, but rather to a hidden difficulty that, with the right support, should not limit anyone's potential and should prevent low self-esteem, as well as social and academic pressure and exclusion.

Mariette Blau (1849 Viena – 1970 Viena) Austrian nuclear physicists

I was a physicist and a pioneer of nuclear physics at a time when science was largely a male domain. I was among the first women in Austria to study Physics and Mathematics, and in the 1930s, together with Hertha Wambacher, I made a groundbreaking discovery for particle physics: the identification of the so-called disintegration stars. Although I was nominated several times for the Nobel Prize, my work remained overlooked for many years.

Being a woman, Jewish, and a scientist profoundly shaped my life and career. Forced into exile in 1938, I continued my research abroad. I returned to Vienna later in life, ill and without institutional recognition. Only long after my death were my scientific contributions fully acknowledged, and today my story stands as a reminder of both scientific excellence and the barriers faced by women in science.

We invite you to share and follow the contents of this campaign on the official profiles of the Embassy of Spain in Austria on X and Facebook.​​