Manca Peskar at a roundtable discussion on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in Celje

Manca Peskar, a researcher in the field of cognitive neuroscience, last year’s recipient of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science award and a collaborator at the Institute for Kinesiology Research at ZRS Koper, took part last week in a round table at Tehnopark Celje dedicated to the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed on February 11.

The round table, moderated by Dr. Maša Jazbec—an artist, academic researcher, curator, and producer working at the intersection of science and art—also featured Prof. Dr. Polona Žnidaršič Plazl, recipient of the 2025 Zois Award for outstanding achievements in chemical and biochemical microprocess engineering and professor at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana; Nuša Bremec, a mechanical engineering graduate employed as a technologist at the toolmaking department of MAHLE Electric Drives Bovec and a nominee for Engineer of the Year 2025; and Dr. Teja Klančič, who holds a PhD in Nutrition, Metabolism and Genetics (University of Calgary) and a Master’s degree in Nutrition and Biomedicine (Technical University of Munich). In addition to these four scientists, the honorary guest of the round table titled From Curious Beginnings to a Successful Career was Dr. Anja Šulin Košar, Head of the Analysis Sector at the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency.

According to 2024 data, women accounted for 53% of those who obtained a doctoral degree in Slovenia. Nevertheless, it remains the case that the proportion of women who continue and advance in scientific careers decreases with seniority.

Photo: Tehnopark Celje