Teachers
Noela Vallejo
Chemical Engineer
Physics and chemistry teacher
Biography
Noela Vallejo Senra
Chemical Engineer. Physics and chemistry teacher
“Helping her students learn each day and enjoy the subject she teaches is her biggest achievment”.
Personal profile
Noela Vallejo was born in Lugo. She is a Physics and Chemistry teacher in IES Brión and a mother. She chose to be a teacher because of the memories she has of her father, who she admired profoundly and was also a teacher, even though she specialized in a more technical field.
Education
She studied up to seventh grade in Lugo. Then she moved to Santiago, where she finished middle and high school. She went on to get a Chemical Engineering degree in Santiago as well.
After finishing her major she took a course at the Official School of Languages (EOI), a computer science course, and completed her PGCE.
Deciding what to do, what to study and learning a lot in general about her degree, are the highlights of her time in university.
She had some complicated subjects in her educational phase but they only encouraged her to learn more and overcome them. There was one one subject she took in the last year of her degree that stood out in a negative way because it was only rote learning from an out-of-date book.
Work experience
She is Physics and Chemistry highschool teacher who is currently working in IES Brión, although she has taught in other highschools. She’s presently collaborating with the library team of the IES Brión highschool by disseminating science-related activities.
Projects
Her daily life with students is her most special project, as she wants them to learn, to see how useful what they study is, and to feel their affection.
She tries to reduce rote learning and focus learning on the creation of knowledge, to get her students to think for themselves and understand the world we live in.
Interests and inspiration
She chose teaching because of the admiration she felt for her father, who was also a teacher, and his love for his job. She followed in his steps but she specialized in a more technical field.
She didn’t have any feminine inspiration who motivated her in the field of science; her preferences were simply vocational, as at the time there weren’t any well-known women scientists. She believes that girls now have more information to choose what to study as well as examples of role-models and teachers. Even so, in the field of health science there are more men than women, but she doesn’t know what causes the number of women in the technological area to be so small. She thinks that outreach campaigns about women in scientific and technological fields --Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry, for example-- are important for girls to opt for this field.
To students who are thinking about starting in the science field she says: “Go ahead. Working is a fundamental part of life, and you are going to be working at least 8 hours a day, so it has to be something you enjoy. Science is interesting, motivating, it changes daily and it helps us to understand the world around us. With effort everything can be understood.”
Noela has always relied on her family, who have helped her carry on. She didn’t have any difficulties in college because of being a woman, but later on she and some partners noticed differences in job placement. This is changing, as there are more and more women in important work positions. Noela is very proud of being a role model for her students.
On line
En la red
Interview
Entrevista
1. Cuándo tuviste claro que querías estudiar una carrera del ámbito científico?
2. ¿Qué materias fueron más complejas durante tus estudios?
3. ¿Qué les recomendarías a las alumnas interesadas en las STEAM?
4. ¿Tuviste alguna referente próxima o histórica que te inspirara?
5. A la hora de elegir los estudios, ¿crees que afectan los roles de género?
6. ¿Que crees que se podría hacer para aumentar participación feminina en las áreas STEAM en general?
7. ¿Cómo fue la reacción de tu entorno ante la decisión de estudiar tu carrera?
Cristina Seoane
Mathematician
Computer science teacher
Biography
Cristina Seoane López
Mathematician. Computer science teacher
"You should study what you like and work in what you can, as long as what you do brings you satisfaction".
Personal Profile
Cristina Seoane López was born in Narón, Ferrol, in 1969. She comes from a family of shipbuilders from the Ferrolterra district.
Her father began to work in the Bazán shipyards when he was 12 years old. She is the first woman in her family to have studied at university, surpassing her family’s expectations while combining work and studies.
She currently lives in Brión and both of her children attended IES de Brión high school.
Education
She studied through the 8th grade at a school run by nuns in Narón, since at the time there were no public schools in that area. During those years, she realized that her next stop would be a public school. When she was growing up, some co-ed schools did begin to appear, but until her final years of high school most of them continued to be single-sex and the preferred choice for teachers, who considered women more docile and less rebelious. As far as her university education was concerned, she always knew that she wanted to go into science.
At the age of 17, she moved to Santiago de Compostela to study a degree in Mathematics. She received her Mathematics degree, having specialized in Statistics and Operations Research.
Work Experience
When she graduated and began to think about her future professional career, she was especially motivated by her love for teaching and motivating those around her. She considered teaching Mathematics in a completely different way to how she had been taught, but at that time there were no Civil Service examinations or provisional lists of teachers in this subject. At that time, however, teacher lists were open in Computer Science and she needed an employment opportunity. Computer Science allowed her to access the working world while keeping her in contact with Technology, Science and teaching. Eventually, she took the Civil Service examinations in order to acquire tenure in the field of Mathematics, but later decided on Computer Science, consolidating her career in this field.
When she began to work, vocational training was only taught in cities or large towns. These were scarce in the area where she lived, which led her to teach in several different schools. Her first assignment was in Ferrol, after which she spent many years in Santiago, some time Lalín, and recently, Negreira.
Projects
Currently she works in the IES San Clemente, where she is also Head Teacher. She never expected to hold an administrative position, but it is allowing her to get a different perspective of her profession. She dedicates her entire professional life to teaching, participating in internationally renowned Erasmus projects and eTwinning contests.
Her biggest professional achievement is when she gets her female students to feel able and sure of themselves in the equipment assembly/disassembly workshop, highlighting the importance of working towards gender equality in the classroom.
Interests and Inspiration
Her personal sources of inspiration were her mother and her aunts, who were not able to study. This led her to pursue economic independence, and to try to achieve this goal with something she enjoyed doing.
She was always good at science and she liked it because it allowed her to express herself and understand the world around her.
Even though she was passionate about Biology, she gave into the influence of those around her and ended up studying Mathematics. Many people thought that Biology was interesting but had few work opportunities. She needed to make a living and she was comfortable around all the sciences, and so she made her choice. She tells us to “Study what you like, work in what you can, and if you can get back into what you like best, then perfect. Always look for something that will make you feel interested in what you do”.
Her scientific mentality leads her to always search for the reason for everything; she is unable to study something if she doesn’t understand it.
Her advice to girls who want to go into Science and Technology is that you don’t have to be a great, brilliant or exceptional scientist to go into these fields. All you have to do is enjoy them, find fulfillment and work well.
On line
On line
Interview
Entrevista
1. ¿Siempre tuviste claro que querías estudiar Matemáticas?
2. ¿Qué factores fueron decisivos en tu elección?
3. ¿Qué destacarías de tus años de estudio?
4. ¿Qué destacarías de tu vida profesional?
5. ¿Qué nos recomendarías a los que estamos indecisos en la elección de estudios? ¿Algo concreto para las chicas?
6. ¿Tuviste alguna referente próxima o histórica que te inspirara? En ese caso, ¿quién? ¿Por qué?
7. A la hora de elegir estudios, ¿crees que afectan los roles de género?
8. ¿Cómo fue la reacción de tu entorno ante la decisión de estudiar esa carrera?
9. ¿Tuviste alguna dificultad o ves alguna dificultad por ser mujer en tu entorno laboral?
10. ¿Qué crees que se podría hacer para intentar aumentar participación feminina en las áreas STEAM?
Eva Pardiñas
Chemist
Technology teacher
Biography
Eva Pardiñas Fondo
Chemist. Technology teacher
“I don’t know if this is the best way, but I am doing my bit".
Personal Profile
She was born 47 years ago in a small village near Laxe, in the municipality of Zas. She moved to Andalucía in her childhood and later to Santa Comba.
Education
She studied her first years of Primary School in Andalucía, then moved to Santa Comba, where she studied BUP (secondary school) and COU (college prep). When she finished her college preparatory studies, she thought about different options like nursing, but she finally signed up and graduated in Chemical Science. She was interested in other studies such as Technical Architecture and Interior Design, and she signed up for Interior design.
Work experience
She has been teaching technology for 18 years, 11 of them in IES Brión.
She currently teaches Technology, Industrial Technology, ITC and Programming.
During her professional life, she keeps training actively and continuously with courses and conferences related to ICT, technology, 3D printing, E-Dixgal Digital Education project and active methodologies.
Projects
She participated in the “Plan Proxecta” of the Ministry of Education.
She has participated in the “Contrato-programa” for several years since 2015/16.
Organiser of award-winning projects in the classroom: Sensors for all: Igaciencia
She participated as an organiser of Apetega’s conference (Association of technology teachers) and as a speaker at ENCIGA’s conference (association of science teachers)
Interests and inspiration
She recommends that everyone should do what they want because where you end up working depends on luck, chance…
On line
On line
Interview
Entrevista
1. ¿Siempre tuviste claro lo que querías estudiar?
2. ¿Qué materias fueron más complejas durante tus estudios?
3. ¿Qué nos recomendarías a los alumnos indecisos en la elección de estudios?
4. ¿Qué mensaje envías a las chicas sobre las materias STEAM?
5. A la hora de elegir los estudios, ¿crees que afectan los roles de género?
6. ¿Tuviste alguna dificultad o ves alguna dificultad por ser mujer en tu entorno laboral?
7. ¿Qué crees que se podría hacer para aumentar la participación femenina en las áreas STEAM?
8. ¿Qué modificaciones propondrías en la formación del ámbito científico para atraer a más chicas?
Teresa Fernández
Math teacher and investigator
Biography
Teresa Fernández Blanco
Math teacher and investigator at the USC
"Todas aquellas mujeres que lucharon por defender sus derechos fueron un referente para mi"
Personal profile
She was born in Lalín in 1969.
Education
She went to high school for her secondary and college preparatory courses in Lalín but then she went to university in Santiago de Compostela where she graduated with a degree in mathematics. While studying her fifth year in the department of applied mathematics she was offered a scholarship which allowed her to achieve the title of Numerical methods in derivative equations applied to engineering.
She continued with her studies obtaining the PGCE while she was working as an interim professor at secondary school.
Subsequently, she also completed a doctorate in Didactics of experimental science, which led her to be awarded a PhD in mathematics. She considers that her career maintains a balance between teaching and investigating. Her investigation builds on the practice and theory of her PhD in derivative equations. The teaching part is based on the same theoretical foundation as her degree as well as on the content of both her doctoral degrees.
Work experience
She worked as an interim professor at secondary school.
Nowadays she’s teaching didactics of mathematics and she’s also investigating in the USC. Teresa collaborates on international projects like KIKS (kids inspiring kids for STEM), Erasmus program, STEM for youth (a European project which belongs to the Science with and for Society section of the program Horizon 2020), Mathematics EDU LARP, STEAMTeach and she’s an Open STEAM group coordinator, too.
Projects
Teresa won a prize in educational innovation at university which won her an extraordinary doctorate award. Furthermore, she is proud to be the main investigator of I+D+I, which belongs to the state research program: development and innovation oriented to the changes of our society.
Teresa has always cared about teenagers at risk of exclusion because there haven’t been any programs based on innovating or stimulating kids at maths.
Each year she takes part in courses that belong to the USC’s teacher training and innovation program, and which cover everything from applications and technology resources to new methodologies.
Interests and inspirations
She also attends educational and investigative mathematics congresses all around the world and likes to be informed about the latest developments because this expands the range of possibilities available for education and learning. Moreover, she is involved in STALMAT (stimulation of mathematical talent) Galicia as a teacher.
Additionally, she spends her free time at the gym as it helps her take her mind off everything and relax. Teresa recommends that in order to be more productive you should make time for other activities that have nothing to do with your work.
On line
On line
Interview
Entrevista
1. ¿Siempre tuvo claro que quería dedicarse a algo relacionado con la ciencia? ¿Qué era lo que más le llamaba la atención de esta?
Si, siempre lo tuve claro. Lo que no tenía tan claro era qué disciplina científica quería estudiar. Me intrigaba la estructura de los elementos de la naturaleza y los procesos y relaciones que ocurrían en ella. En general, todo lo relacionado con la resolución de problemas me atraía y eso me aproximó mucho a las matemáticas.
2. ¿Cúales fueron los factores decisivos en la elección del grado que cursó?
Elegí matemáticas como ciencia a estudiar porque me encantaban y no me suponían mucho esfuerzo, hasta ese momento. Esto último cambió al empezar la carrera.
3. ¿Qué destacaría de sus años de estudio?
En términos generales, diría que el aprendizaje siempre requiere esfuerzo y que si tienes curiosidad e inquietudes nunca terminas de aprender. Esas inquietudes me han llevado a embarcarme en proyectos de investigación que mantengo junto a la docencia.
4. ¿Le resultó especialmente complicada alguna materia de la carrera?
Pues sí, la materia de estadística. Nunca había estudiado nada similar y rompía con mis creencias sobre las matemáticas. No me resultaba lógica dentro de mi esquema mental.
5. ¿Que podría recomendar a los jóvenes que están indecisos o confusos en su elección de estudios? ¿Y en el caso de una joven que se esté planteando iniciarse en su misma rama de estudios?
Lo primero, les diría que es una decisión difícil pero que en todo caso por lo que tienen que guiarse es por lo que les llame más la atención o les produzca más inquietud. Esto es lo hace que avancemos porque nos
lleva a indagar e investigar.
Lo segundo, que no pasa nada si nos confundimos en nuestra elección, todos podemos equivocarnos y cometer errores. De los errores también se aprende.
Lo tercero, que lo fundamental es que estudien algo que te llene y que no se dejen llevar por la presión del entorno. Cuando yo cursé la carrera nunca noté un trato diferente por cuestión de género. Por ello, le diría lo mismo a un chico que a una chica: que se prepare para ver más letras que números y que a medida que avance en la carrera le va a gustar mucho más.
6. ¿Tuvo alguna referente próxima o histórica que le inspirará en su campo de estudio?
La verdad es que ninguna en concreto. Todas aquellas mujeres que lucharon por defender sus derechos (políticos, sociales o de cualquier otra índole) son un referente para mi. Todas ellas tuvieron que superar humillaciones relacionadas con su intelecto y eso es común a todas las disciplinas, sean científicas o no.
7.A la hora de elegir estudios, ¿cree que afectan los roles de género?
Si la pregunta se refiere a que, si creo que un estudiante decide meterse en una carrera teniendo en cuenta el porcentaje de su género en ella, creo que hoy en día no. Sería un paso atrás si eso fuera así. Lo que sí es un dato objetivo es que hay carreras que atraen más a un género que a otro. La explicación a esto aún se sigue investigando ya que no está claro que los únicos factores que influyan son culturales y/o familiares.
8.¿Cómo fue la reacción de su entorno al saber lo que quería estudiar?
No fue muy buena. En el entorno familiar esperaban que estudiara medicina y no matemáticas y no aceptaron muy bien esa decisión. En la calle la gente se extrañaba de mi elección, quizás porque consideraban esa carrera de mucho nivel para una mujer. La verdad es que nunca les pregunté el porqué. También me ocurrió en varias ocasiones que al comentar lo que estudiaba la gente pensaba que estaba de broma.
9.¿Tuvo algún problema por ser mujer a la hora de empezar a trabajar en su ámbito?
No, ninguno que yo recuerde ahora mismo.
10. ¿En su carrera el porcentaje de estudiantes mujeres es menor al de hombres?
En mi carrera, desde que yo la hice, siempre hubo un porcentaje similar. Incluso en alguna promoción fue superior el número de mujeres al de hombres.
Mercedes Casal
Professor and researcher of biology
Biography
Mercedes Casal
Professor and researcher of biology at the USC
“The best part of my degree were my classmates.”
Personal life
Mercedes Casal Jiménez was born in Santiago de Compostela in 1949.
Education
She studied in small schools in Santiago and afterwards her family moved to Coruña, where she went to secondary school for four years and studied two years of her bachelor’s degree. Then she finished her college preparatory studies in “Eusebio da Guarda” girls’ high school.
It took her some time to realize what she wanted to study, but she had always liked everything related to animals and nature, so she ended up choosing biology. She studied this degree at the University of Santiago de Compostela, from where she graduated in 1973.
Then she defended her doctoral thesis at the University of Seville in 1982. In 1986, she studied a post-doctoral degree at the “Centre d´Ecologie Fonctionelle et Evolutive” at the CNRS in Montpellier (France).
Work experience
All of her academic activity took place in the USC School of Biology, where she taught various subjects in the bachelor’s degree and doctoral programs.
In 1973 she started working at the USC as an ecology teacher while simultaneously working on her doctoral thesis, which she defended in 1982.
Between 1982 and 1987 she was a teaching assistant and after a few months as an associate professor, she received tenure in 1988, which she held until she retired in 2014 and was awarded the title of scientist “Ad Honorem” (pro bono) of Department of Biology at the USC.
Interests and inspirations
She belongs to the Biology Department’s group “Escola do lume” (School of Fire), where she developed her studies and research based on the environment after a forest wildfire. She claims this was mainly due to the fact that during the 70s wildfires began to be very frequent in Galicia and she is interested in knowing how vegetation recovers in their aftermath, and what devices take part in that regeneration.
She was chairperson of the Official School of Biologists.
What she is most proud of in her career is the human quality of the research team with which she works with and having collaborated to teach numerous graduating classes of biologists.
On line
On line
Interview
Entrevista
1. ¿Siempre tuviste claro que querías estudiar Biología?
2. ¿Qué factores fueron decisivos en tu elección?
3. ¿Qué destacarías de tus años de estudio?
4. ¿Qué materias fueron más complejas durante tus estudios?
5. ¿Qué nos recomendarías a los que estamos indecisos en la elección de estudios?
6. ¿Tuviste alguna referente próxima o histórica que te inspirara?
7. A la hora de elegir estudios, ¿crees que afectan los roles de género?
8. ¿Cómo fue la reacción de tu entorno ante la decisión de estudiar esa carrera?
9. ¿Tuviste alguna dificultad o ves alguna dificultad por ser mujer en tu entorno laboral?
10. ¿Qué porcentajes de chicas y chicos cursan las áreas STEAM que conoces?
11. Propondrías alguna modificación pedagógica para mejorar la docencia?
12. ¿Que crees que se podría hacer para intentar aumentar participación feminina en las áreas STEAM?
13. ¿ Por qué empezaste a investigar sobre incendios en Galicia?
14. ¿De qué te sientes más orgullosa en tu carrera?