The Embassy of Spain presented Oceánicas: Pioneers of Oceanography, a travelling exhibition hosted at the University of Malta Library, which paid tribute to 20 remarkable women whose contributions to ocean science had often been overlooked. Their groundbreaking work expanded our understanding of the oceans and continued to inspire new generations of scientists.
Spanning from the 18th century to the present day, the exhibition began with Jeanne Baret, the first and only woman to circumnavigate the globe during the Age of Exploration, and traced the achievements of pioneering women through to contemporary oceanographers leading conservation efforts. The display consisted of 15 chronological panels, each featuring engaging narratives and vivid illustrations. A digital book accompanying the exhibition was also made freely available on the project’s official website.
About the Oceánicas Project
Oceánicas was an initiative of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO, CSIC), launched in 2018 to highlight the role of women in marine sciences. Developed in line with the UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), the project aimed to promote gender equality in science through exhibitions, educational materials, and public engagement.
It celebrated historical figures such as Marie Tharp, who mapped the Atlantic Ocean floor despite being barred from research vessels, and Ángeles Alvariño, the first woman to sail on a British research ship, who discovered 22 new marine species. At the same time, Oceánicas served as a platform for contemporary female oceanographers to share their work and mentor aspiring young scientists
