Did you know ... female scientists in marine sciences feel more the gender gap than scientists?

It should not be forgotten that for a long time in a society modeled for men, women have not only been denied training, it has also been difficult to shine on their own merits, not being recognize their important contributions to the development of our society. It is in the science field where we have been able to observe much more clearly the enormous impediments that female scientists have encountered, if it was possible even more in marine science. As an anecdote, the prohibition that women could not get on board, being displaced in the field of marine sciences to laboratory work or collection of samples on the coast. Women have not only been limited in research, training in marine science was also a handicap for them. Over time, the women was able to pursue higher education and field research through oceanographic cruises, not without going hand in hand with their husbands, also dedicated to research, as established by the U.S. regulations.

Outstanding pioneers of oceanographic expeditions were, Marie Tharp, cartographer and American geologist, creator of the first scientific map of the entire ocean floor; Jimena Quirós Fernández y Tello, considered the first Spanish oceanographer, first to sail on an oceanographic cruise in 1920. She was also the first to sign a scientific paper in marine science and to be the first scientist in the history of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography. It will not be until the 1990s, when we saw some women in positions of responsibility. However, in Spain it was not until 2004 when Concepción Soto became the first general director of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO).

We come to this day and the increase in oceanographers must be highlighted, existing to this day, more women marine scientists than men. However, the access of women to positions of responsibility is still not equal, something that takes us back to past times where the value of women as scientists was not valued in justice, thus dragging a huge talent deficit that our society and our planet cannot afford.