International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026
Feb 11, 2026
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed annually on 11th February to promote full, equal access to, and participation in, STEM fields for women and girls. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2015, this day highlights that women constitute less than one-third of researchers worldwide.
Following on from 2022 when the NRT celebrated the day of women and girls in science we decided it was time once again to highlight some of the amazing women working on the NRT both in the UK and in Spain.
Who are you and what do you do?
Sofía - Visiting researcher
I'm Sofía and I come from Spain. I am here on an internship, working on giving a new life to LOTUS. This is a spectrograph which used to be on LT and will now go on one of the TTT telescopes, moving from La Palma to Tenerife. I'm also finishing my master's on mathematics, a field I love because it gives support to so many other disciplines... one might even end up getting to work with astrophysicists! In my free time I enjoy outdoor sports, reading and hanging out with my friends. I also enjoy playing music, but that's on hold for now… too many things going on all at once!
Chloé - Instrument scientist (LJMU)
I’m Chloe, I work for the NRT as “Instrument Scientist”. As the title indicates, I am responsible for the instruments of the NRT, so the cameras and optics that allow us to record the light that the telescope captures, and tailor it to what researchers need for their science, i.e. if they need to see the IR light from a star, its UV light, its composition. For each of these properties, a dedicated instrument is needed and that is what I am responsible for.
In my work as in my spare time, I am very hands on and therefore always have hundreds of new craft projects at any given time. My favourites at the moment are painting and cross-stitching. I also am a passionate rugby player and play alongside Helen.
Beth - PhD student (LJMU)
I'm Beth, a PhD student working with the NRT team in instrumentation. The telescope is what collects the light, but the instruments are what help observers do their science. I'm working on a spectrograph which will allow us to study the type of light coming from different places in our universe and give insight into rotational speed, how far away something is from us, and much more. My main hobby is my sport, squash, where I often represent my home island of Jersey.
Fun Fact: I have named my instrument Squash!
Helen - Project scientist (LJMU)
I'm Helen. I am NRT project scientist which means I help shape the science case for the telescope and work with the engineers to ensure that the telescope is optimally designed to suit the range of science cases. In reality this means lots of meetings but lots of trips to meet collaborators! In my spare time I like walking dogs, playing drums, powerlifting and going to gigs. I also play rugby with Chloé and we are both on the committee for Liverpool Collegiate Rugby Club.
Fun fact: I have been learning Norwegian on and off since 2008!
Graciela - Systems engineer (IAC)
I’m Graciela, I am one of NRT systems engineer. I help translate the science goals into clear technical requirements and work closely with engineers to ensure the telescope systems are designed and integrated to meet them. In practice, this means coordinating across teams, structuring complex tasks, and keeping the big picture aligned with day-to-day progress.
Outside of work, I’m a mum of three and an enthusiastic planner of family adventures.
Alejandra -Project outreach (IAC)
My name is Alejandra. I studied astrophysics, but I have always been passionate about education. I am committed to learning about the complex knowledge generated by scientists and translating it so that other people, especially children, can understand it.
