The Stem Women Congress, which recently concluded its first stage on March 3, 2025, was held in Bologna and witnessed full attendance. This collaborative event was organized by the Golinelli Foundation and Rete CapoD, under the scientific direction of Daniela Piccinini. The congress kicked off with representatives from various institutions and was dynamically hosted by Serena Dandini, who provided a platform for prominent speakers, embodying the movement toward gender equality.
The congress focused on the enduring gender gap prevalent in Italy and Europe, particularly noticeable starting from students' educational choices. This event featured two main sessions. The first session addressed gender biases within the knowledge sphere, highlighted by Elena Cattaneo, senator and professor at the University of Milan. With her, key figures included Amalia Ercoli Finzi, professor at the Polytechnic University of Milan, Camilla Gaiaschi, sociologist at the University of Salento, Elsa Fornero, economist at the University of Turin, and Maria Chiara Carrozza, president of the National Research Council (CNR).
The second session, titled “Passion and Perseverance,” shone light on inspiring stories from women who have made significant contributions to their fields. Noteworthy speakers included Marina Brambilla, rector at the University of Milan, and Marica Branchesi, physicist at the Gran Sasso Science Institute. The morning concluded with testimony from Maria Di Mauro, who is studying aerospace engineering at Federico II University of Naples and was honored as the Alfiere del Lavoro 2024, sharing her personal experiences.
The congress was marked by the active participation of students from Emilia-Romagna, known for its innovative approach to STEM subjects. These students engaged through hands-on activities, such as creating a tag cloud filled with words representing gender equality and creating selfies inspired by the Women’s Hall of the Parliament. These interactive endeavors sparked student imagination, allowing them to envision possible and inclusive futures.
Keywords from the students like determination, culture, and solidarity contrasted with the speakers' emphasis on passion, enjoyment, and courage. This dialogue enriched the lively and engaging atmosphere of the event.
Antonio Danieli, vice president and general director of the Golinelli Foundation, stressed the importance of fostering an excellent scientific and technological ecosystem within Emilia-Romagna. Despite this, he acknowledged the persistent gender gap in STEM fields as a significant challenge. He reinforced the necessity of initiatives like this congress, which forge connections among schools, universities, and businesses, showing female role models to inspire new generations.
Lucia Ghirardini, president of Rete CapoD, emphasized the pivotal role of education as foundational for transforming futures and identified the urgent need to eliminate biases and stereotypes from childhood. Morena Rossi, content manager of the Stem Women Congress Italia, concluded by highlighting the emotions and transformative power of real-life stories as necessary tools for reshaping narratives defining current gender dynamics.
The Stem Women Congress originated in Spain, making its Italian debut last year with the support of Orange Media and Women at Business. The Bologna event received endorsements from Italy's Ministry of University and Research, as well as the Emilia-Romagna Region and Bologna Municipality. The next stop for this congress will take place in Rome on May 30, 2025, focusing on the competencies required by the labor market.