STEM NEWS RADAR
STEM Women Radar | July 2026
Celebrating the achievements of our global community
Every month, women around the world advance research, transform industries, develop new technologies and create opportunities for future generations.
This July edition of the STEM Women Radar has a special focus: the professionals featured are members of the Global STEM Women Directory, our international platform dedicated to increasing the visibility of women working across science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Their recent achievements reflect the diversity of the global STEM ecosystem, connecting digital culture, artificial intelligence, interactive media, design, technology and women’s health innovation.
Ruth S. Contreras Espinosa
Recognised for her contribution to videogames, digital culture and audiovisual media
Mexico · Spain | Technology, interactive media and artificial intelligence
Ruth S. Contreras Espinosa received the 2026 Medal for Merit in the Arts from the Congress of Mexico City.
Ruth S. Contreras Espinosa received the 2026 Medal for Merit in the Arts from the Congress of Mexico City, in the Audiovisual Media category.
The distinction recognises her extensive academic and professional career at the intersection of videogames, digital culture, interactive media, design and artificial intelligence. The medal was presented during a formal ceremony held by the Congress of Mexico City on 21 April 2026.
Ruth is a professor and researcher at the University of Barcelona and holds a PhD in Multimedia Engineering. Her work explores how videogames, interactive media and emerging technologies are transforming education, communication and the creative industries.
Her research has contributed to broadening the understanding of videogames beyond entertainment. She examines their cultural, educational and social relevance, as well as the ways in which digital environments influence how people learn, communicate and participate in society.
The recognition is particularly significant because it brings greater visibility to a field that is not always fully acknowledged as part of STEM: the intersection of digital technology, audiovisual communication, interaction design, artificial intelligence and cultural research.
Technological innovation does not depend exclusively on developing new tools. It also requires understanding how people interact with those tools and how technology influences culture, creativity, education and human behaviour.
Why she is on our Radar
Ruth represents the value of interdisciplinary STEM careers.
Her work connects technology, artificial intelligence, videogames, design, communication and cultural research. It demonstrates that scientific and technological progress also requires creativity, critical thinking and a deep understanding of society.
Her recognition helps expand the public perception of what a STEM career can look like and highlights the growing importance of interactive and audiovisual technologies within research and innovation.
Discover Ruth’s work
View Ruth’s profile in the Global STEM Women Directory →
Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn →
Read the official Congress of Mexico City announcement →
Vanessa Julia Carpenter
Connecting international ecosystems to advance women’s health innovation
Nordic region | Femtech, product design and healthcare innovation
Vanessa Julia Carpenter represented the Nordic Women’s Health Hub at the FemTech Across Borders 2026 Summer Programme in Shanghai.
Vanessa Julia Carpenter represented the Nordic Women’s Health Hub at the FemTech Across Borders 2026 Summer Programme in Shanghai, held from 22 to 25 June 2026.
She participated in an international panel exploring the global femtech movement and shared the Nordic Women’s Health Hub’s approach to creating systemic change in women’s health. Her participation is confirmed by the official programme and by her own post-event reflections.
The international programme brought together entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, healthcare professionals, innovators and ecosystem leaders working to accelerate technological solutions and cross-border partnerships in women’s health.
Vanessa is a designer, researcher, author and women’s health innovation specialist working at the intersection of design, technology and healthcare. She holds a PhD focused on designing meaningful smart products and has extensive experience in hardware innovation, participatory design, research, entrepreneurship and ecosystem development.
As co-founder of the Nordic Women’s Health Hub, she contributes to strengthening the connections between innovators, researchers, healthcare systems, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers across the women’s health sector.
Her participation in Shanghai brought a Nordic perspective to an international conversation about the future of women’s health and reinforced the importance of cooperation between different markets, disciplines and healthcare ecosystems.
Women’s health has historically been under-researched, underfunded and insufficiently represented in technological innovation. The growth of femtech is helping to address these gaps through products, services and technologies designed around women’s health needs.
Meaningful and lasting progress, however, requires more than isolated products. It requires connected ecosystems capable of bringing together science, engineering, clinical knowledge, product design, investment, public policy and lived experience.
Why she is on our Radar
Vanessa represents the increasing importance of women’s health innovation within the global STEM landscape.
Her work demonstrates how design and technology can contribute to more inclusive healthcare systems and how international collaboration can accelerate innovation in areas that have traditionally received insufficient attention.
Her participation in the Shanghai programme also shows the value of connecting regional ecosystems, sharing knowledge across borders and ensuring that diverse perspectives influence the future of health technology.
Discover Vanessa’s work
View Vanessa’s profile in the Global STEM Women Directory →
Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn →
See Vanessa’s photographs and reflections from Shanghai →
Explore the official Shanghai Summit 2026 programme →
From visibility to opportunity
The achievements of Ruth and Vanessa demonstrate that there is no single pathway to building a career in STEM.
Women in STEM are conducting research, influencing digital culture, transforming healthcare, connecting international ecosystems and developing solutions to challenges that affect societies around the world.
Making these women visible is not simply about celebrating individual success.
Visibility creates role models. It strengthens professional networks, encourages collaboration and helps younger generations understand the wide range of opportunities available within science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
At Global STEM Women, we believe that women’s talent must be recognised, connected and made visible.
The Global STEM Women Directory brings together professionals from different countries, disciplines and career stages who are contributing to the transformation of the global STEM ecosystem.
By highlighting the achievements of women from our own community, the STEM Women Radar becomes more than an editorial publication. It becomes a platform for recognising the talent, leadership and impact that already exist within our international network.
Could you be featured in the next STEM Women Radar?
Have you recently:
- received an award or professional recognition?
- published new research?
- contributed to an important discovery?
- launched an innovative project?
- taken on a new leadership position?
- reached a significant professional milestone?
Join the Global STEM Women Directory and become part of an international community committed to increasing the visibility and impact of women in STEM.
Being part of the directory does not automatically guarantee selection for the Radar, but it allows Global STEM Women to discover your profile, follow your professional journey and consider your achievements for future editions.
Your next professional milestone could be featured in an upcoming edition of the STEM Women Radar.
Join the Global STEM Women Directory →
Your work matters. Your achievements deserve to be visible.