Recognition for Geography lecturer Maria Prats at the 8M institutional event

Esther Zapater: "Each time a women occupies a position where there was none before, society as a whole benefits"

Maria Prats: "Interdisciplinarity and inter-university cooperation is essential"

The institutional event organised by the UAB Equality and Diversity Service on Monday 9 March, and held at the conference hall of the Rectorat building, began with a speech by Secretary General Esther Zapater, who stated that "8M is a reminder that equality is not a destination, but a starting point, that is renewed with every generation and with every decision we make". And she added, "today I invite you to understand it also as an investment in talent, in social development, innovation, future, because innovating is not only buying new software or constructing smart buildings. True innovation putting on purple glasses and redesigning our culture of research, teaching and knowledge transfer".

Zapater has also pointed out that "the system fails when a female researcher has to choose between her career and caring for others, or when an engineering student feels like an intruder in her own class". And she explained that every time a woman enters a space where there was none before, society as a whole benefits. "When a girl can imagine herself as a scientist, engineer, artist, headteacher, leader or whatever she wants to be, the world grows", she said.

Regarding the results of the UAB's Fifth Equality Plan, Secretary General Zapater detailed that of the 78 planned measures, more than half (57.7%) have been implemented, and that 28.2% are initiated or underway, leaving only 12.8% pending. The priority lines have included measures to support teaching centres, followed by various and diverse awareness-raising actions.

She concluded by saying that we must dare to "review processes that have always worked but do not work for everyone, to question dynamics that seem natural but are not, and to imagine a future where equality is not a date but a stable ecosystem".

Recognition career achievements

Following the speech by Secretary General Zapater, Department of Geographys' honorary lecturer Maria Dolors García Ramon presented honoree Maria Prats and stated that she has been one of the fundamental pillars of the UAB's Geography and Gender Research Group, a pioneering group in introducing gender perspective on Catalan and Spanish geography, created in 1988.

Professor Prats graduated in Geography from the UAB in 1984 and spent ten years away before returning to the UAB to begin her postgraduate studies. During that time away from the UAB she worked as a secondary school teacher, a UN cooperant in Africa, and a consultant in the private sector. She returned to the UAB, obtained her PhD and began her career as a lecturer and researcher under Professor Maria Dolors García Ramon, whom she regards as a mentor and role model, together with Professor Pilar Benejam, who she also spoke of and mentioned as the person who "enlightened me when choosing the path I decided to follow".

Both Professor García Ramon and professors Mireia Baylina and Margot Mecca (who appeared in the tribute video that was shown) highlighted the "dedication, responsibility and rigour" with which Professor Prats has always worked, as well as her "generosity and ethical standards in everything she has done". They described her as a very feminist woman and a staunch advocate of teamwork. They also highlighted the numerous international stays she has undertaken throughout her career to promote research and teaching in geography and gender.

They also highlighted her work at the helm of the UAB Observatory for Equality, a role she held from 2019 to 2025, a period "of which I have very fond memories, as it allowed me to gain an in-depth understanding of how the University is managed".

Professor Maria Prats continued by thanking everyone who has made her career at the UAB possible. She also mentioned the pioneering lecturers in feminist geography at the UAB, Gemma Cànoves and Montserrat Solsona. She explained that she has learned and grown thanks to her colleagues and the work they have done through the Geography and Gender Research Group. And she particularly emphasised that “interdisciplinarity and inter-university cooperation are essential”. She concluded her speech by dedicating the recognition she received “to all the women who have suffered from gender violence”.

Finally, Rector Lafuente gave a closing speech by congratulating Professor Prats and thanking her for the innovative work she has undertaken. "Despite the progress, there are still inequalities in many areas; that is why universities have a fundamental role in creating more inclusive, more equal and freer spaces", concluded Javier Lafuente.

The UAB Choir, conducted by Poire Vallvé, performed various musical pieces that concluded the institutional event for International Women's Day at the UAB.