“The Marie Curies of the Mediterranean” at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Zaragoza
From February 10 to March 26, 2026, the lobby of Building A (Physics) at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Zaragoza is hosting the exhibition “The Marie Curies of the Mediterranean”, a celebration of the lives and achievements of women scientists and researchers from the Mediterranean region who have been awarded the prestigious European Union Marie Curie research fellowships and/or contribute to them through their work.
“The Marie Curies of the Mediterranean” consists of 29 panels offering an intimate portrait of each featured scientist. Each panel includes a biography covering their childhood and motivations, university studies, and professional achievements. It also highlights the impact of the Marie Curie fellowships on their careers and provides insight into their hobbies and family lives. Among the scientists featured is María Batuecas Batuecas, a researcher at the University of Zaragoza’s Institute of Chemical Synthesis and Homogeneous Catalysis (ISQCH), a joint research center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Zaragoza.
María Batuecas is a chemist trained at the Complutense University of Madrid and awarded her PhD from the University of Zaragoza in 2014 (summa cum laude). She has built an outstanding national and international career at leading institutions such as the University of Manchester and Imperial College London, and has received several prestigious European fellowships, including a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship. Her research focuses on the design of new compounds for the development of catalytic processes and sustainable strategies in chemistry, with particular interest in the valorization of small molecules and the regeneration of chemical fuels. She currently leads her own research line at the University of Zaragoza’s Institute of Chemical Synthesis and Homogeneous Catalysis (ISQCH), has authored numerous high-impact scientific publications, and actively contributes to the training of early-career researchers.
The exhibition has been translated into nine languages and has been displayed in several European, Asian, African, and American countries, representing women scientists and researchers from 22 countries, 19 of them Mediterranean. Its main objectives are to inspire younger generations, highlight the cultural richness and scientific talent of the Mediterranean region, and increase the visibility of women in science and research.
The exhibition is organized by the Institute of Chemical Synthesis and Homogeneous Catalysis (ISQCH, CSIC–University of Zaragoza) and the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Zaragoza. “The Marie Curies of the Mediterranean” was designed by El Caleidoscopio and the Marie Curie Alumni Association, partners of the MEDNIGHT consortium, which also includes CIEMAT in Spain.
