In this month’s ‘In Depth’ section, we discuss the role of women in scientific diving and research—topics that emerged during the 'CSIC de Cine' panel debate held a few days ago at the ICM-CSIC on the occasion of the screening of the thriller “Los Tigres”.
A few days ago, the courtyard of the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC) became a forum for reflection where cinema and science met right by the shoreline. The screening of the thriller Los Tigres served as the trigger for a new edition of 'CSIC de Cine'—organized this year jointly with the Marine Technology Unit (UTM-CSIC). The session was preceded by a panel discussion that served to highlight one of the major institutional battles at ICM-CSIC: the urgent need to bridge the gender gap in science, and specifically in this case, within the realm of scientific diving and oceanographic research campaigns.
The debate, moderated by Jordi Sorribas, director of the UTM-CSIC, featured Aurora M. Ricart—a researcher at ICM-CSIC specializing in the role of seagrass meadows and kelp forests in climate change mitigation, as well as a scientific diver—and Jordi Solé, a researcher at ICM-CSIC and CREAF expert in oceanographic modeling and the analysis of energy systems and natural resources.
Female Presence and Challenges in Scientific Diving
In the film, the character of the sister (played by Bárbara Lennie) reflects the hardship and the visibility of women in professional maritime environments. Aurora M. Ricart used this backdrop to address the situation of women in scientific diving. Although female representation is very high in the early stages of a research career, the main challenge arises when trying to ensure work-life balance during key career stages.
Even so, the presence of women in scientific diving has evolved significantly over recent decades. Currently, across many fields of marine science—especially in disciplines like marine ecology or conservation biology—women represent a substantial portion of the research staff conducting underwater fieldwork. However, achieving greater female representation does not necessarily translate into full equality of opportunities. Major challenges remain, such as lower representation in leadership positions, the difficulty of adapting a traditionally male-dominated sector to a larger female presence, and crucial issues such as managing and balancing motherhood.
At the same time, scientific diving is an activity where experience, training, planning capacity, and teamwork are far more decisive factors than physical strength. This has fostered an increasingly balanced participation and the emergence of female role models at all levels. In the Catalan Mediterranean region, this presence is particularly notable, with numerous research teams featuring high female involvement in both fieldwork and scientific coordination and leadership.
The main current challenge, therefore, seems less about women gaining access to scientific diving, and more about ensuring that this participation is sustained throughout their entire professional careers.
This reflection ties directly into the discussions promoted by ICM-CSIC to highlight female technologists and divers as role models for future generations and to advance protocols supporting female leadership. Along these lines, Jordi Sorribas emphasized that the UTM-CSIC is implementing measures to adapt working conditions and promote gender parity.
Planetary Boundaries
The dialogue did not overlook the other main theme of Los Tigres: industrial pressure and refineries along the Huelva coast. In this regard, A.M. Ricart stressed that quick engineering fixes like artificial reefs "are neither a magic solution nor a substitute for degraded ecosystems. If we do not reduce human pressure, they are merely a band-aid. True protection requires preserving natural ecosystems."
Complementing this view, Jordi Solé analyzed the socioeconomic drama of the protagonists: "The fragile balance between economic necessity and the biophysical limits of the sea warns us that if we push the oceans to the brink, we will face not only a climate collapse but also a social collapse." Solé emphasized how the numerical models currently used to study the dynamics of the ocean's surface layer help us understand the dispersion of critical elements like toxic spills or harmful algal blooms. He cautioned that the future of our coastlines will be radically different from what it is today unless a systemic perspective is adopted: "As a society, we are part of the same system, and if we fail to understand the interconnection between ocean physics and our economic model, we risk watching the very structures that sustain us collapse."
Finally, at the conclusion of the panel, Sorribas summarized the spirit of the event before introducing the screening, inviting the audience to watch the film from a much more conscious mindset. Indeed, the primary goal of the gathering was simply to bring citizens a little closer to the marine environment, both individually and collectively, fostering a debate aimed at helping viewers enjoy the thriller Los Tigres while better understanding the fragility of the ocean, the challenges faced daily by those who work in it, and the vital importance of scientific research in protecting it.