19 November 2025
Zurbano Palace in Madrid
On 19 November, the University of Deusto was one of the main institutions at the official ceremony for the second edition of the 2024 STEAM Alliance Awards, presented by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports to recognise educational projects that encourage STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) vocations among girls and young women, helping to reduce the gender gap in this field.
At the event, held at the Zurbano Palace in Madrid, Deusto was recognised for itsInspira STEAM programme, which won first prize in the category for public or private organisations. This recognises an initiative that began in 2016 and was a pioneer in promoting scientific and technological vocations, particularly among girls. The project is based on group mentoring activities and targets Year 6 primary and Year 1 secondary students, who discuss and reflect on STEAM subjects with professionals from these fields—volunteers from the worlds of research, science, and technology.
Mari Luz Guenaga, programme coordinator, accompanied by Maite Sánchez and Leticia Aulestiarte, members of the Inspira STEAM team, was one of those responsible for receiving this award. An acknowledgment that, according to Mari Luz Guenaga herself, “symbolises the effort and enthusiasm of many people and organisations that have made it possible to reach thousands of girls and boys over the 10 years the programme has been running: the mentors, who are the heart of the project; the schools and the staff who open the doors of their classrooms to us; the public and private organisations that collaborate with and sponsor the programme; and the outstanding team that coordinates and manages every detail. Thanks to all of them for working towards a fairer and more equal society”.
Over its nine editions, more than 2,800 female mentors and 300 male mentors have worked with nearly 50,000 girls and boys from 550 schools, sharing their careers and professional experience, broadening perspectives on the scientific and technological world, challenging stereotypes, and bringing STEAM role models closer to younger students. In various editions, the programme has been carried out in the Basque Country, Galicia, Asturias, La Rioja, Aragón, Catalonia, Madrid, Castellón, Murcia, the Canary Islands, Andalusia, as well as in Chile and Argentina.
The STEAM Alliance Awards are part of the national strategy “Girls in Science”, launched to encourage innovative projects with a real impact on both the theory and practice of education. In this edition, awards were presented in five categories covering early childhood, primary, secondary, and baccalaureate education, vocational training, and organisations outside the school sector.
In the category for public or private organisations, alongside Deusto, the winners included the Esplugues de Llobregat City Council (second prize) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (third prize). In addition, the jury awarded honorary mentions to the Regional Ministry of Education of Extremadura, the Young Women’s Federation, the ASTI Talent and Technology Foundation, and the CERES Foundation.
