The Embassy of Nepal in Spain organized an Online Webinar ‘Connecting Minds For A Better Future’ on the occasion of the 8th International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 FEB 2023.

The program started with the welcome address of Her Excellency Dr. Sarmila Parjuli Dhakal, Ambassador of Nepal to Spain, to the august forum in which she welcomed everyone present at the webinar. She highlighted the significant role played by women and girls in the advancement of society as a whole, with their contribution to politics, economics, culture, environment and science among others. Ambassador Dr. Parajuli stressed on vital role played by gender equality and women empowerment to inspire women and girls to pursue a career in science. She further stressed that gender equality and women empowerment are at the center of the Constitution of Nepal and the foreign policy of Nepal in coherence with Agenda 2030. She also paid homage to the countless women and girls who have dedicated their lives to the field of science and made huge impact and contributions to our understanding of the world and its mysteries.

Ambassador Dr. Parajuli’s welcome speech was followed by experience sharing and presentations from a power packed panels of ten women and girls in science, five each from Spain and Nepal, who are industry leaders in their respective fields. The panel had Dr. Maria Blasco, Molecular biologist and oncologist; Dr. Maria Jose Alonso, Professor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology; Dr. Hemu Kharel Kafle, Founder and Director of Research at Kathmandu Institute of Applied Sciences; Dr. Alicia Sintes, Chair in the area of Theoretical Physics; Dr. Bijaya Pant, Professor and Researcher in Botany; Dr. Maria Dierssen, Neurobiologist; Dr. Sunila Rai, Professor at the University of Agriculture and Forestry; Ms. Maria Bouso Posada, Researcher of Earth and Space Sciences; Dr. Meena Poudel from Sociology sector; and Dr. Reshma Tuladha, Associate Professor at the Department of Microbiology. All the panels presented their recent work, and how their work has impacted and touched millions of lives by bringing constructive and positive changes in society. They also shared their experiences of balancing between personal life and career growth and stressed on the need of more women and girls in science.

The webinar was then followed by Her Excellency’s concluding remarks, in which she expressed her gratitude to all the panel for their attendance at the event. She urged everyone, especially young women and girls, present at the event to follow onto the footsteps of the venerable panels. She encouraged Pharmaceutical and Medical businesses to invest in Nepal, and tap into its huge potentiality. She also motivated the panels from both Nepal and Spain sides to look for joint ventures in the future.

The webinar was attended by Ambassadors of different countries, diplomats, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, Nepali Diaspora, Media Personnel, other distinguished guests from diverse arrays of fields.

– Embassy of Nepal, Madrid, Spain.