The IUEM inaugurates its new headquarters as a space for research, critical thinking and equality

He University Institute for Women's Studies (IUEM) The University of La Laguna has had a new and renovated headquarters since Monday, July 13th. This multidisciplinary space, located in the Professor Agustín Arévalo Tower, was created after several months of work with the aim of strengthening research, training, and knowledge transfer in the field of women's and gender studies. Researchers, faculty, and even students on internships can all make use of this collaborative and co-creative space, which comprises four rooms.

The director of IUEM, Carina González, inaugurated these facilities, which, as she pointed out, stand as a tangible expression of a history that began long ago. “None of this is built individually, and this Institute is the result of the work of those who promoted and directed it for years, such as Amparo Gómez, María Eugenia Monzón, María José Guerra, María Dolores Serrano, Margarita Ramos Quintana, and Inmaculada Perdomo Reyes.”

Carina González, director of IUEM.

This new headquarters, which includes offices, meeting rooms, collaborative workspaces, and even a podcast recording area, aims to strengthen the Institute's presence both within and beyond the university, forging increasingly solid ties with public institutions and the Canary Islands community at large. Furthermore, González highlighted the work they do, as the IUEM delves into some of today's most pressing issues, such as gender-based violence, persistent inequalities, gaps in science and technology, the integration of a gender perspective in research, and biases in Artificial Intelligence.

The Rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García, was present at this inauguration ceremony, which represents “continuing to move forward at a time when it is necessary to offer knowledge and data where shadows are being cast and fake news”García, before concluding his remarks, emphasized the pride the academic center feels in having a leading institute like the IUEM, whose work highlights the realities facing society. “We have numerous resources as well as a great capacity for research and knowledge generation.”

The inauguration included the unveiling of the murals that adorn the new headquarters, designed by the artist Carla Garrido. The artist explained that the works were conceived as a visual representation of the values and lines of work of the University Institute for Women's Studies. According to the artist, the compositions invite the viewer to pause and discover the many stories and metaphors they contain, becoming a defining feature of the new space.