11 February marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 to promote full and equal access to and participation of women in science, and to raise awareness among the public and institutions about the need to overcome stereotypes and structural barriers that still persist in research and higher education.

This year again, the Department of Geosciences at the University of Padua is taking part in this occasion with a communication initiative aimed at highlighting the scientific contributions of its women researchers across the many fields of geosciences.

For 2026, following the experiences of 2024 and 2025 — when the Department organized informal paired interviews with PhD candidates, researchers, and faculty — a new format has been introduced: One Story, Many Voices.

Shooting and video editing by Barbara Paknazar

In this collective video, filmed in the researchers’ own workspaces, each participant briefly presents her scientific field — from mineralogy to geophysics, from climate change studies to critical raw materials, from paleontology to materials conservation — offering a direct look at the questions and knowledge-building processes that drive the Department’s research. A laboratory technician also took part, highlighting the essential contribution of these highly specialized professionals, who perform accurate analyses using complex, state-of-the-art technologies.

Rather than a celebratory account, the initiative offers website visitors and the broader community a concrete and authentic picture of the work our researchers carry out every day, emphasizing that science is a collective, multifaceted, and interdisciplinary endeavor.

Throughout the video, individual expertise comes together in a shared narrative, where each voice contributes to a broader story about the role of geosciences in understanding the past, interpreting the present, and addressing the future challenges of our planet.

With this new project, the Department reaffirms its commitment to 11 February as a moment for reflection and communication, encouraging discussion on gender dynamics in scientific research and making visible the work of those who contribute to knowledge with rigor, competence, and passion.

This commitment is part of a broader, long-term strategy: “The establishment of the Diversity, Equal Opportunities and Inclusion Committee represents a structural commitment by the Department to equity and inclusion. Our work goes beyond one-off initiatives; we aim to create an environment where everyone can fully express their potential. We monitor gender dynamics, promote collective reflection, and carefully shape our external communication. Initiatives such as the one on February 11 are part of this path: we want the visibility of women researchers to be not exceptional, but normal” says Professor Gabriella Salviulo, President of the Committee.

Our thanks (in order of appearance in the video) go to Martha Pamato, Katinka Bellomo Repetto, Bruna Borges Carvalho, Lisa Santello, Elena Ghezzo, Ilaria Barone, Anna Barbaro, and Lara Maritan for their enthusiastic participation in the initiative.