PROMICON Women In Science presents: Marta Bellver Catalá

PROMICON’s new social media campaign #WomenInScience aims to portray the excitement and the difficulties that come with being a female scientist, shedding more light on this career path. Each week, we will tell the stories of the women behind PROMICON and this week we are presenting you Marta Bellver Catalá from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.

What initially sparked your interest in science?  

When I was a child, I was very interested in learning about animals; exploring their habitats and interactions was one of my favourite things to do. I guess this sparked my curiosity for understanding life through science.

What are some common misconceptions about being a female scientist that you've encountered in your career?

That we are close-minded and less creative to come up with a solution.

Which female scientist do you look up to the most and why?  

Lynn Margulis is a very important figure for me, not only for her scientific contribution to evolution theory, but for the bravery that it implied. By affirming that we were never individuals, she transformed the egocentric vision of what a human being is. I for sure learned about her at school, but the information was insignificant compared to the effort put towards Mendel’s or Darwin’s theories.

What advice would you give to young women considering a career in science nowadays?

Only you know your strengths and weaknesses, don’t let anyone in a power position make you doubt of them.

Marta Bellver Catalá