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UCM academic gave a talk on gender perspective to Firefighters

abril 11, 2025

The expert in applied mathematical modeling, Karina Vilches, addressed the persistent gaps in science and technology, representing the team that will install an observatory at the Universidad Católica del Maule.

“Women, Society and Firefighters” was the title of the seminar organized by the firefighting institution in Talca to update officers and volunteers on the conceptual framework, legislation and policies related to gender equity. The meeting addressed the situation of women in different fields, including science and technology.

“Gender gaps appear in all tasks and professions, which is why it is a collective challenge to generate instances of reflection to raise awareness among people so as not to continue perpetuating them. It is an opportunity for society to have more female volunteer firefighters, since their contribution would save many lives,” said Karina Vilches, an academic from the Universidad Católica del Maule, who participated in the conference as a speaker.

Vilches, who holds a PhD in Mathematics and Engineering Sciences, attended the activity on behalf of the team that will install a gender observatory at UCM, to characterize the reality of women in the areas of research and innovation and promote capacities to reduce gaps within and outside the campus.

“In my talk I presented data on gaps in science and technology, which we are trying to close progressively. It is an evolutionary process, which at least this year marked a notable increase of 13.9% in the number of women applying for STEM careers,” she added.

In its fifth edition, the event brought together figures such as the Spanish firefighter and councilwoman of the municipality of Adeje, Patricia Paulsen, and the superintendent of Algarrobo, Valeska Acevedo.

“These seminars do generate changes and some requirements are heard. For example, last year it was proposed to open calls so that women could opt to have Class F to drive fire trucks and this was done,” said Rosa Ponce, the longest-serving active firefighter in Talca and an employee of the San Miguel campus.

“The idea is to empower women in the institution, through the experiences of other women, such as businesswomen and researchers who have overcome different circumstances and managed to excel,” said Pedro González, regional head of Gender Equity at the Fire Department.

Firefighters are doing things to remedy this problem,” he emphasized, ”and so a gender regulation and a protocol in the event of abuse was born.

The “ADA Observatory” project, which will run for three years with funding from the Agency for Research and Development (ANID), is directed by Mary Carmen Jarur, an academic at the university and PhD in Complex Systems Engineering.

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