How does the rain fall? Why does planet Earth have people? Why does the sun shine so much? Can we go to another planet? Why do astronauts go into space? Why does our planet get sick? Why does the moon shine so brightly? Zita Martins (Vice-President of Técnico for International Affairs, professor and researcher at Técnico / Centro de Química Estrutural – CQE), Rita Santos (Técnico PhD student / Center for Astrophysics and Gravitation – CENTRA) and Constança Simões (Aerospace Engineering student and member of the Student Support Unit) answered these and other questions as part of a video campaign promoted by the “Engenheiras Por Um Dia” project to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (celebrated on 11 February).

Established by the United Nations (UN), the International Day of Women and Girls in Science aims to promote gender equality in science and to recognise the importance of women’s participation in all areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The “Engenheiras Por Um Dia” project encourages students in non-tertiary education to choose engineering and technology, deconstructing the idea that these fields are male-dominated.

The Programme is an initiative of the Portuguese Government, coordinated by the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG) and INCoDe.2030, in collaboration with the Portuguese Association for Diversity and Inclusion (APPDI), Instituto Superior Técnico and Ordem dos Engenheiros. It involves a network of 101 partner entities (of which 15 are municipalities), 62 primary and secondary schools and 23 higher education institutions.