Women+ of oPEN Lab continues highlighting and celebrating the contributions of women and individuals of diverse genders within the oPEN Lab project. The second feature in the series is Alicia Kalms working at the National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain. Alicia is actively contributing to the oPEN Lab project in Living Lab Pamplona. Below she answers the questions we asked her to know more about her professional journey.
Can you describe your role in the oPEN Lab project and the specific aspects you are working on?
It is a pleasure to be involved in this project and initiative and to have the opportunity to share my insights and impressions regarding the contribution of women in the context of the Horizon 2020 oPEN Lab project. I am thrilled to share the highlights of my contributions to the project! While I cannot provide a comprehensive account of the specifics, I will present an overview of the most important aspects that the members of the CENER (the National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain) team work on.
Firstly, the opportunity to lead a technical work package (WP5) related to the roll-out of the multi-energy systems at the building and district level in the PEN environment and the validation of the innovative energy solutions that the project proposes. Of course, with an excellent group of partners, we are contributing to achieving the milestones since the start of the project in 2021.
Secondly, at the local level, in the Pamplona city demonstrator in Spain, the oPEN Living Lab Pamplona, collaborating in all the phases, from the planning, designing, and execution of the technical energy systems installation, to the control, operation, monitoring, and validation with the help of the Living Lab tools, technical and human equipment, citizens and the municipality.
From my personal point of view, as a result of my involvement in the oPEN Lab project, of course, contributed to my professional development and growth. I think the incentive of collaborating with people from different entities helps you to “get out of the box” and try to understand their point of view. That in itself is something very positive about this work experience. Because of the reliable group of persons involved and their implications to the goal of decarbonisation at local and European levels, while mitigating the threats of climate change.
©Alicia Kalms
As a woman in a technical field, what unique perspectives or strengths do you believe you bring to the oPEN Lab project?
In the field of energy-efficient renovations or sustainable development, I think I help to the gender mainstreaming, by bringing the vision of how women perceive these aspects, what needs and preferences they have in terms of habitability, energy saving, reduction of energy bills, care for the environment, etc. Bringing this vision to the project and integrating these specific sensitivities of women, helps in general the oPEN Lab team to guide the research and technical activities so that they can provide a comprehensive response that satisfies all end users, both men and women.
The tools provided by the oPEN Lab initiative will facilitate sustainability, particularly for women who encounter unique challenges in the context of the green transition where they have to defend their role not only as active participants in different professional and domestic spheres, but also in the decision-making and governance of these transitions. Furthermore, I think that it is vital to bring to the forefront the gender equality strategy, which is always present in our daily work, in this project, but also in our personal lives.
The presence of women in the field of energy efficiency and sustainability is necessary, is really relevant and especially in Spain, where statistics on gender equality in the energy and renovation sectors are not very positive, and there is still a wage gap.
I feel fortunate to work in a technological centre with an active gender plan, despite the fact that today the percentage of men on staff is still almost double that of women. Especially if we take into account the European figures (41% of people employed as scientists and engineers are women – Eurostat) that justify the reality in which we find ourselves.
Because today most people believe that equality in the workplace is quite or very important, as well as I do. So, we still have a long way to go to achieve the goal of balanced participation in technical tasks, but also in political and in public decision-making. For example, by promoting the woman in technical field (STEM carees), they can contribute to streamline the gender equality process and, of course, to the overall effectiveness, acceptance and prosperity of the proposed solutions. Bear in mind that the index of femininity in the Spanish population is over 100. It is a must to include gender-sensitive policies to include women in the taking-decision process.
What advice would you give to young women and girls who are interested in pursuing a career in STEM, especially in fields related to energy efficiency and sustainable development?
I positively encourage young women to actively pursue STEM careers. In this field there is no positive difference briefly. Even though today STEM women are becoming more and more valuable, young women today still need role models. European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, in her Political Guideline presented last July, plans to launch the STEM Education Strategic Plan, in which the access and participation of women in these studies will be especially encouraged. Improving competitiveness in Europe means having quality professional skills and that are prepared to face the challenge of strategic autonomy and the energy transition. Women can and must play a fundamental role in this.
In the H2020 oPEN Lab project, innovation is key, but also is education and acceptance of the innovative solutions. That is why in our communication and dissemination activities the plan includes activities such as workshops, interviews, videos… that encourage the participation of women and help to awaken vocations in the STEM field and to create references through the examples of the work carried out in our project. This can be achieved by integrating different points of view and perspectives, working together, and collaborating to design solutions that suit everyone. And this broad solution is a challenge in itself.
In conclusion, I sure that empowering the women in STEM areas is ensuring a brighter future for all, for youngers and for women, of course.
