On 11 February, the world celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, established by the United Nations General Assembly to promote full and equal access for women to scientific education, STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and decision‑making spaces in research. The day recognises the essential role of women in scientific progress while also calling out the barriers that still limit their presence and careers.
At the Kilian Jornet Foundation, science is one of the pillars that gives meaning to our work, alongside education and direct action in mountain environments. Since the very beginning, many of the projects we have launched have only been possible thanks to the work of women scientists who have put their knowledge at the service of the mountains.
This 11 February, we want to show how the Foundation’s trajectory is deeply intertwined with women in science, and how their work has allowed our research to have a real impact on high‑mountain ecosystems and on the communities that depend on them.
These seven women are a powerful example:
Núria Catalán
Núria Catalán is one of the key scientific figures behind the Foundation’s work on high‑mountain ecosystems. An aquatic biogeochemist and researcher at CEAB‑CSIC, she leads the LACOS and METAESTANY projects, recognised by the Catalan Foundation for Research and Innovation and the Alt Pirineu Natural Park, which focus on the role of mountain lakes in the carbon cycle. By monitoring the metabolism of Pyrenean lakes and their CO₂ emissions, these projects help us understand whether lakes act as carbon sinks or sources, and how overuse or invasive species can alter this balance. Núria provides the Foundation with rigorous, high‑impact knowledge about how global change is transforming mountain lakes and, with them, the functioning of the entire Pyrenean ecosystem.
Irene Figueroa
Irene Figueroa works with the Foundation on the management of the protected area Tossa Plana de Lles – Puigpedrós. A biologist at the organisation Paisatges Vius, she focuses on biodiversity conservation through management, research and environmental awareness projects in the territory. A central part of her work is the conservation of threatened species such as the Pyrenean capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus aquitanicus), an isolated and extremely vulnerable subspecies, with fewer than 5,000 individuals worldwide and a critical status in Catalonia.
As she herself explains:
“I have always felt drawn to nature and wildlife, and I’ve been fortunate enough to work both in research and in conservation. For me, science is a tool that serves conservation and management, helping us to make decisions and assess the impact of the actions we take.”
Her work helps the Foundation connect research with the day‑to‑day management of protected areas, making conservation and human use more compatible.
Anna Planella
Anna Planella collaborates with the Foundation on research into the Pyrenean rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta pyrenaica) in the Tossa Plana de Lles – Puigpedrós protected area. This Pyrenean subspecies is a post‑glacial relict located at the southern limit of its global range and is one of the species most sensitive to climate change. Her research focuses on population monitoring, distribution and the identification of critical use areas, in a context of high recreational pressure in both summer and winter.
Thanks to Anna’s work, the Foundation has access to essential data to define regulation criteria, improve management of the protected area and ensure the continuity of standardised monitoring of the rock ptarmigan in Catalonia – a key step to balance species conservation with the social use of the mountains.
Sandra Blasco
Sandra Blasco is a geologist specialised in geological hazard mapping, with a career that combines scientific rigour with a passion for mountains, trail running and skyrunning. A nature and photography enthusiast, she has oriented part of her professional path towards social communication and digital marketing, with the aim of bringing science closer to the general public, especially in the outdoor world.
Within the Foundation, she collaborates in environmental education projects such as the Running Minds programme, where she shares her expertise to explain the landscape, geology and natural values of the areas where sports activities take place. She is also an ambassador for NNormal, reinforcing the link between sport, science and respect for the natural environment. As she summarises:
“Science is a tool to understand the terrain and anticipate dangerous situations. Through geological hazard mapping, I analyse the processes that control mountain stability to help protect people, the territory and the ways we use it. Working in the mountains means working in my natural environment: it’s where I feel most myself, where science and essence meet.”
Sandra brings to the Foundation the ability to translate the technical language of geological hazards into narratives that the mountain community can understand and use.
Júlia Garcia-Oteyza
Júlia Garcia‑Oteyza is a geologist, graduate of the Complutense University of Madrid with a master’s degree in Geological Hazards from the University of Barcelona. In 2024 she completed her PhD on glacial oscillations and climate variability in northeast Greenland, a project that included three scientific expeditions to the Arctic. She is now a postdoctoral researcher and project manager of the European PERMAPYRENEES project (Interreg POCTEFA), in which she collaborates with the Foundation.
Her work focuses on studying permafrost in the Pyrenees and its evolution under accelerated climate change, providing key data to understand how high‑mountain environments are transforming and what risks are associated with permafrost degradation. This research strengthens the Foundation’s scientific pillar in the field of the cryosphere and supports our efforts to raise awareness about permafrost, hazards and safety in the mountains.
Anna Manjón
Anna Manjón is a specialist in molecular biology with experience in biomedical studies and a strong track record in environmental research. She has taken part in scientific expeditions to Antarctica, contributing first‑hand knowledge about polar ecosystems and the effects of climate change. At the Foundation, Anna is responsible for scientific projects, coordinating research, monitoring and conservation work in high‑mountain areas.
Among the most relevant projects is the management of the Tossa Plana de Lles‑Puigpedrós Natural Site of Special Interest, where she applies scientific criteria to species conservation and the regulation of public use, as well as collaboration with international initiatives such as the International Year of Glacier Preservation (IYGP25). Her view captures the essence of this work:
“For me, science is knowledge, and that knowledge allows us to better understand the world around us. Only then will we be able to live in balance with nature and make responsible decisions to protect our planet.”
Anna is one of the key figures sustaining the Foundation’s internal scientific pillar and ensures that everything we do on the ground is built on a robust base of knowledge.
Fabienne Durand
Fabienne Durand holds doctorates in Pharmacy and Exercise Physiology and has been a full professor at the University of Perpignan for more than 25 years. After a sports career in elite fencing, she discovered mountaineering and the great Alpine peaks, experiences that shaped her scientific interests around hypoxia and the body’s adaptation to exercise and environmental stress. Her research bridges performance and health, working both with elite athletes and with people living with chronic illnesses.
She lives in Cerdanya, a region she feels deeply connected to, and for her the mountains are simultaneously a place of life, research and family. She explains it like this:
“The functioning of the human body has always fascinated me, and from an early stage I sought to combine my passions with my intellectual curiosity. Pursuing a scientific career therefore became the natural path. This journey, however, has not been without challenges: as a woman, it is often necessary to make greater efforts to progress and gain access to the most stimulating positions. My professional commitment is also expressed through teaching, as the transmission of knowledge holds a central place in my work.”
Fabienne offers the Foundation a unique perspective on the human body in high‑mountain environments and on how to practise sport in demanding conditions in a way that is both mindful of health and respectful of nature.
