Firstly, Rosa Palacín introduced the Institute to the female participants, which came from Freie Universität Berlin, and from the UAB and UB. Next, Anna Roig explained her career path to become a scientist, and her research in nanoparticles for brain therapy. She also asked the young students what were their interests.

After that, the participants could visit some of our laboratories, including the AFM laboratory, with Andrés Gómez, the Low Temperatures and Magnetism Lab, with Bernat Bozzo, the Nanoquim Platform (clean room) with Marta Riba, and the TEM lab with Judith Oró. 

This summer school "Diversity in the Cultures of Physics" was held for young physicists at Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and at Freie Universität Berlin. In 2018, the same summer school will be for students from UB, UAB andUppsala Universitet.

The aim is to facilitate the transition from master to PhD and to open up transnational perspectives for a career in physics. 

The summer school is aimed at young physics students who:

• Are in their last year of the degree, enrolled in a master's program or at the beginning of their PhD
• Study at Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona or Uppsala Universitet
• Are interested in the social framework of doing physics
• Want to know more about how physics is shaped by gender and diversity Female students are eligible to apply for an Erasmus scholarship to cover the costs (travel, accommodation, food) of the school. 

Aims of the Summer School:

• Gain an insight into the variety of research fields of women physicists in Europe
• Establish contacts for future collaborations and stays abroad
• Get to know the professional networks in physics
• Learn about national and international equality oriented advancement programs for young female scientists
• Become familiar with work place cultures of physics in actual cultural, political and everyday context
• Learn about equality policies at European universities and research institutions
• Learn about the role of gender and diversity in physics
• Recognize and explore the diversity in the cultures of physics 

Program of the Summer School

The participants spent 4 weeks together in Barcelona (2 weeks) and in Berlin (2 weeks) with a two-week break in between.In each country the courses offered will include the following events:

• Lectures and visits to physics research groups.
• Follow a local research group / perform a mini-research project with a local group.
• Contacts to equality-oriented institutions and activities at the universities and cooperating institutions as well as in the national associations and foundations.
• Lectures and discussions on gender & science studies. 

The summer school is part of the Erasmus+ Strategic Partnership 'Diversity in the Cultures of Physics' between Freie Universität Berlin, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Uppsala Universitet, The University of Manchester, and the University of Sheffield.