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Observe, learn, dream,
be brave and curious!
WOMEN, MINORITIES & STEMINISTS IN SCIENCE WEEK 2025- SPACE EXPLORATION
Get ready to take off with us! We are thrilled to invite you all to the Women, Minorities and STEMin in Science Week (WMSW) 2025, from February 5th to 11th. This year, we're focusing on Space Exploration and we want YOU to join us for FREE webinars. At WMSW, we believe in open science and can't wait to share our passion with you!
Meet our Keynote Speakers for the WMSW 2025
Pavithra Ravi
Pavi is a PhD student and researcher at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Her dissertation focuses on AI concepts to automate ground-based satellite collision avoidance procedures. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in 2019, and Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2021, from Purdue University (Indiana, USA). Alongside her PhD, she works as a software developer to support the operations of sounding rockets at DLR. Pavi's hobbies include travelling, playing table tennis, and talking to strangers. She is from Singapore.
Cécile Deprez
Cécile (she/they) is a researcher in the field of satellite positioning (GPS) at the German Space Centre in Munich. Since 2022, Cécile has been active as a speaker on topics such as sexism, microaggressions, allyship, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
In this event, we will jump into the colorful world of the LGBTQIA+ community! Reflecting on how to best support its members, we will tackle topics such as the use of gender pronouns and inclusive language, the difficulties linked to “coming out” and “outing” experiences, and the importance of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). This event aims at creating a space where allies feel safe to ask questions that they otherwise might feel embarrassed or unsure to ask.
In this event, we will jump into the colorful world of the LGBTQIA+ community! Reflecting on how to best support its members, we will tackle topics such as the use of gender pronouns and inclusive language, the difficulties linked to “coming out” and “outing” experiences, and the importance of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). This event aims at creating a space where allies feel safe to ask questions that they otherwise might feel embarrassed or unsure to ask.
Prof. Mónica Hernandez
Mónica, with over two decades of experience in the areas of Corrosion, Asset Integrity, and Sustainability Management, passionately advocates for diversity and inclusion, making meaningful strides toward empowering women in STEM. In 2023, her unwavering commitment to this cause earned her a place among the top 5 finalists for the "Women that Build Awards" by Globant, cementing her role as an inspirational leader in North America.
Bojan Ambrožič
Bojan Ambrožič is a trained geologist. He obtained his PhD in the field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. He is currently employed at Center of excellence for nanoscience and nanotechnology in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he is responsible for the Focused Ion Beam technique.
Charlene Ngassam Tounzoua
Every scientist probably remembers the first time they witnessed the magic of science in action, for Charlene it was the cations flame test, 2 decades ago, in a little school at the feet of Mount Cameroun (West Africa). Fast forward to 2017, Charlene was graduating with a master's degree in Organic Chemistry from the University of Liege (Belgium) and embarking on the transforming journey of the doctoral thesis. Today, Charlene works as a R&D grants consultant at Deloitte Belgium, helping innovators obtain the financial support they need to bring their ideas to LIFE.
Teresa Pérez-Prado
Dr. Teresa Pérez-Prado heads since 2008, the Sustainable Metallurgy group at IMDEA Materials Institute. She was Division Leader between 2014 and 2017, and Deputy Director between 2017 and 2021. From 2018 to 2022 she was Manager of the programme on Structural Materials at the Spanish National Science Foundation. Dr. Pérez-Prado got a PhD in Physics at the Complutense University in Madrid in 1998 and an MBA at INSEAD, France, in 2008. After a 2-year postdoctoral stay at the University of California in San Diego, USA, she joined the National Center for Metals Research (Madrid, Spain) in 2001, where she was granted a Tenured Scientist position in 2004. She currently is a member of the Scientific Council of several international institutions including the NOMATEN Center of Excellence (Polans, 2018-2023), the IRT Jules Verne (France), the Henry Royce Institute (UK), and the European Space Agency (2018-2024). She has published more than 150 papers (h50, 9500 citations) in the field of physical metallurgy and advanced manufacturing.
Arman Tursunov
Dr. Arman Tursunov is a Humboldt Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn. With a Ph.D, DSc., and RNDr academic titles in theoretical physics and astrophysics, his research focuses on black holes, high-energy cosmic rays, and multimessenger astronomy. He has authored over 50 papers, for which he received multiple awards. In his research, he combines theoretical knowledge with experimental and observational experiences.
Caroline Gieser
Caroline Gieser is an Astrophysicist and Astrochemist. She obtained her
PhD at the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg and at the Max Planck
Institute for Astronomy. Her dissertation was dedicated to observing
regions forming stars with masses much higher than the Sun and,
characterizing their structural and chemical properties using a
combination of observations and theoretical models. She is currently a
postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial
Physics at the Center for Astrochemical Studies in Garching bei München
where she expands her work by zooming in to the process of how stars
like the Sun accrete their mass.
PhD at the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg and at the Max Planck
Institute for Astronomy. Her dissertation was dedicated to observing
regions forming stars with masses much higher than the Sun and,
characterizing their structural and chemical properties using a
combination of observations and theoretical models. She is currently a
postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial
Physics at the Center for Astrochemical Studies in Garching bei München
where she expands her work by zooming in to the process of how stars
like the Sun accrete their mass.
Anna Sandak
Dr. Anna Sandak is the Deputy Director for Science and head of the Material Department at InnoRenew CoE in Slovenia. She is an associate professor at the University of Primorska and a Management Board member of the New European Bauhaus Academy Pioneer Hub and high-level representative in the Technology Council tor Advanced Máterials: In 2022, she received the ERC Consolidator Grant for her ARCHI-SKIN project, which explores engineered living materials. Her research on probiotic architecture is ongoing through the REMEDY project, recently funded by the European Innovation Council under the Pathfinder call.
Hira Nadeem
Hira Nadeem is a Space Systems Engineer on the SkySat Mission Operations team at Planet in San Francisco where she contributes to the mission of imaging the Earth's landmass to make global change visible, accessible and actionable. She is the President and Co-Founder of the Zenith Canada Pathways Foundation. After being selected as the first Canadian Brooke Owens Fellow in 2020, Hira adapted the program to launch careers of underrepresented early career professionals in the Canadian space sector.
Maria Jose Maureira
Maria Jose Maureira is an observational astronomer, passionate about studying the early stages distar and planet formation. She completed her PhD at Yale University, where she worked with radio interferometers like ALMA in the chilean Atacama Desert and the VLA in New Mexico, USA, to identify the youngest protostars and their jets in nearby molecular clouds. Now a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, she continues her research, using powerful interferometers to zoom in and understand the formation and processes within young protostellar disks, the birthplaces of planets.
In the early stages of star formation, stars are hidden within dusty interstellar clouds, making them invisible to optical telescopes. But at radio wavelengths, these clouds become transparent, and that's where radio interferometers come in-they allow us to see and zoom in on young protostars. I'll briefly explain how radio interferometers work and share some exciting observations and discoveries from the past decade that have deepened our understanding of star and planet formation.
In the early stages of star formation, stars are hidden within dusty interstellar clouds, making them invisible to optical telescopes. But at radio wavelengths, these clouds become transparent, and that's where radio interferometers come in-they allow us to see and zoom in on young protostars. I'll briefly explain how radio interferometers work and share some exciting observations and discoveries from the past decade that have deepened our understanding of star and planet formation.
Mariana Garrido
Mariana Garrido is a virology researcher by training and an advocate for community-based support and equity in STEM. After a decade in the lab, Mariana transitioned to initiatives that empower others, founding Kytos to teach science in a fun, engaging way and organizing Brock University’s Women in STEM event. Now a Social Issues Researcher with Future Black Female - a Canadian charitable organization -, she develops and implements initiatives that empower Black youth in Ontario to take charge of their education and career paths as well as their social, political, and civic engagement. Through her journey, Mariana has become a vocal advocate for mental health in academia, sharing her experiences to inspire others to find their unique paths in STEM.
Tamara Tuvić
Tamara Tuvić, has a Master's degree in Physical Chemistry from the University of Belgrade. From 2010 to 2021 she worked in different industries. From 2021 she is a Journal Relations Specialist at the Belgrade office of the Journal of Coatings MDPI. Her responsibilities also include using a creative problem-solving approaches in the context of scientific publishing and research in the sciences
Join us for an exciting lineup of virtual events during Women, Minorities & STEMinists in Science Week 2025!
See the full program list here and register here.
Meet Our Organising Team
Meet the organising team behind our second edition of Women, Minorities & STEMinists in Science Week 2025!
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