The Julia 2023 scientific mentoring program ends

Julia Scientific Mentoring Program (Young University Women Led by Researchers in Action) 2023 ended a few days ago.

This is a joint initiative in Directorate for Scientific Research and Technological Development (R&D) of the National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (Senacyt) and the City of Knowledge Foundation.

50 mentors and 60 mentees participated in this meeting and for the first time the program was open to other provinces.

This was possible thanks to the collaboration of nine scientists working in research centers and universities in the interior of the country, who helped 14 students from the province of Chiriquí and the central provinces (Herrera, Veraguas and Coclé).

One of Julia’s purposes is to connect students to careers in the science with researchers with the aim of strengthening socialization and connections between researchers (mentors) and young university students (mentees) with a scientific vocation, providing them with tools and opportunities to promote their penetration into the field of research, developing skills, strengthening critical and creative thinking and decision-making in order to materialize their professional development.

The program also offers mentors access to information about scholarships and opportunities in scientific research.

The final event of the program had a series of activities such as presentations by areas of knowledge and regions, an exchange in which current challenges faced by mentors and mentees were discussed, and the dynamics of life projects in which mentors briefly presented their trajectories. and the mentors worked on their own projects.

During the final meeting, the results of the program evaluation led by Dr. Nathalia Tejedor, who gave her input on the mentor’s results, were presented, while student Hanna Figueroa presented the mentee’s results.

Likewise, a panel of research center directors was held who shared information about programs and support mechanisms aimed at students interested in research, and certificates of participation were awarded to all mentors who were part of the program.