Ciudad del Saber, Panama – The Latin American Maritime Authorities Women’s Network (Red MAMLa), represented by its General Coordinator, Farash Duarte, and Michelle G. Arrocha, Director of the Committee on Foreign Relations and International Cooperation (CRECI), paid an institutional visit to the National Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT). The meeting was attended by Dr. Eduardo Ortega-Barría, National Secretary of SENACYT, and Ms. Rella Rosenshain, Head of Information and Public Relations.

The main objective of the meeting was to discuss the National Policy for Gender Equality in Science, Technology and Innovation of the Republic of Panama through 2040. This strategic instrument establishes the country’s roadmap for closing gender gaps within the scientific and technological ecosystem, analyzing how its pillars can be extrapolated and incorporated into the maritime sector.

During the discussion, the importance of integrating the principles of this policy into strategic areas such as logistics, port innovation, maritime digital transformation, and environmental sustainability was emphasized—sectors in which Panama holds a privileged geopolitical position.

Red MAMLa highlighted that the maritime sector, a fundamental pillar of the Panamanian and regional economy, requires greater participation of women in STEM careers, scientific research, technical leadership, and decision-making roles. In this regard, synergies were explored to promote maritime scientific vocations from an early age and to raise the visibility of female role models in science applied to the maritime field.

Likewise, the possibility of analyzing the expansion and diversification of academic programs offered by the International Maritime University of Panama (UMIP) was addressed, in coordination with SENACYT’s Undergraduate Scholarship Program to Train Women in STI. The goal is to broaden opportunities for more women to specialize in naval engineering, maritime technology, and sciences applied to this sector. As a sign of this commitment, the Director of CRECI formally presented a copy of the Network’s Strategy to Dr. Ortega-Barría, reaffirming the willingness to work jointly on the implementation of these strategic pillars.

Dr. Ortega-Barría reiterated SENACYT’s commitment to increasing female participation, emphasizing that gender equality is not only a matter of social justice, but also an essential condition for the country’s sustainable development and competitiveness.

For Red MAMLa, this meeting represents a key step toward building a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable maritime ecosystem, where science, technology, and innovation serve as transformative tools for women’s leadership in the region.