International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. Now, more than ever, there’s a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. There’s a strong call to #PressforProgress motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive. “We need to encourage and support girls and women to achieve their full potential as scientific researchers and innovators.” – UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
The path and recognition of any scientist is a challenge. This challenge is increased in case this scientist is a Woman and if this course entails being a precursor in some area or region. Teresa Lago is an example of this. At a time when, in Portugal, the role of women in science would not be accepted as naturally as it is today, Teresa overcame prejudices and obstacles, she pioneered Astrophysics and was the founder and first director of the Centre for Astrophysics of the University of Porto. Today, the challenges continue, and next August Teresa Lago will assume the position of Secretary General of the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Celebrating this day, the IAU Portuguese ‘Language Expertise Centre for the OAD’ (PLOAD) will be speaking to Teresa Lago on 8 March 2018, at 12:00 UTC. The recorded webinar (in Portuguese) can be found at: https://youtu.be/5NFM32wD5KQ