On the occasion of International Day of Women and Girls in Sciencethe President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulouvisited today National Center for Research in Natural Sciences “Demokritos”where she was welcomed by the Secretary General of Research and Innovation Athanasios Kyriazis, the Director and Chairman of the Board of the Center George Nounesis and the Director of the Institute Christos Markos.
Ms. Sakellaropoulou went to the lecture hall of the Institute, where she had a meeting with women researchers of Democritus and students of the DG Lyceum of neighboring schools (1st Lyceum of Agia Paraskevi, Pierce and Hellenic School – Eugene Delacroix) who have chosen their studies.
The discussion was moderated by the Director and Chairman of the Board of NCSR “DEMOKRITOS” George Nounesis, the Director of Research of Democritus Maria Konstantopoulou (Biotechnology), the Director of Research of Democritus and the Vice-Chairman of the Committee ), as well as the Director of Research of Democritus Eleni Makarona (Nanotechnology).
Afterwards, the President was guided to the premises of the Tandem laboratory by the director of the Institute, Christos Markos, together with students of the 3rd Lyceum.
Speaking to women scientists and young students, Ms. Sakellaropoulou stressed that “in our time, stereotypes are broken and your generation will live to enjoy this. We, the older ones, live this exceptionally and we all work, from the first to the last, for this “. As he said, “a man when he shouts is dynamic, a woman when he shouts is hysterical”. He also referred to the challenge that women accept and noted that all this challenge and the fear of women, make them stay behind and work successfully everywhere but not in positions of responsibility.
He also argued that we will never have equality if family responsibilities are not shared equally, but noted that in young people, this begins to apply. “One can never say that from tomorrow we will have equality and have achieved it. They are the little ones who will bring the big ones “.
He recalled that women came to be accepted as lawyers and judges in the mid-20th century, around 50, until then they were good for nurses and support jobs. In fact, he noted that “when the first great retreat took place, they considered that women were for the humanities and not for the sciences”.
Concluding, he pointed out that “we are on the right track, however there is still much to be done, regarding salaries and positions of responsibility, but I see change coming”. Citing American Ruth Bender Ginsberg, she stressed that “time is of the essence” and “no one can stop it.”
Concluding her visit, Ms. Sakellaropoulou said: “Today, on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I met women scientists from the National Research Center” Democritus “who excel in a field that for centuries was considered” male ” despite its significant female contribution to its development. “I also met students who love physics, math, technology.”
He also stressed that “the dynamic participation of women in these fields will make a decisive contribution to the progress of the economy and society and to addressing the great challenges of our time. “We must therefore strengthen their role in advancing the sciences, put aside what prevents them from reaching positions of responsibility, and support young girls to make their dreams come true.”
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