Female students from Cádiz, Huelva, Sevilla, Barcelona, Navarra, and Murcia win the 5th edition of RedeSTEAM

Six teams from schools in Cádiz, Huelva, Sevilla, Barcelona, Navarra, and Murcia have won the awards in the fifth edition of RedeSTEAM, the sustainable scientific and technological projects competition through which Redeia promotes the study of STEAM subjects among girls, with the aim of reducing the gender gap in these sectors.

This year, 171 female students in their 3rd and 4th years of Secondary Education and equivalent Vocational Training, hailing from 32 schools across eleven provinces, took part in the RedeSTEAM challenge. This Redeia initiative promotes the study of STEAM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, in connection with Arts and Humanities) among young women aged 14 to 16, with the aim of reducing the gender gap in this field.

Through the 43 projects presented in this edition, the students used STEAM disciplines to tackle the challenge of applying this knowledge practically to current issues, such as the generation of clean, affordable, and efficient energy; the use of digitalisation to improve people's quality of life; and the search for solutions to habitat loss, deforestation, and the pollution of rivers and oceans.

Three of the awards are decided by a professional jury – comprising prominent female professionals in research, technology, or sustainability – and another three by popular vote. As a new feature, this edition incorporated into the jury the perspective of young students linked to the Indifferent Minds Foundation, an organisation specialising in gifted and talented students.

The winning teams will collect their awards on 15 October at an event held at the Fundación Giner de los Ríos in Madrid, as part of the Redeia Sustainability Conference. The prize for the winning students is a trip to Madrid with their teachers to participate in immersive workshops on STEAM subjects, thereby stimulating their curiosity in this field. The winning schools will receive equipment and materials for STEAM-based classrooms worth €3,000.
Over its five editions, RedeSTEAM has seen the participation of 850 female students from 147 schools across all autonomous communities and the autonomous city of Ceuta, cementing the programme's nationwide reach and the schools' interest in this initiative.

The winning projects of RedeSTEAM 2026

In the Affordable and Clean Energy challenge category, the public awarded the Eco-hogar project by the Eco-hogar team from EEPP Sagrada Familia, Fundación Peñaflor in Écija (Sevilla). Meanwhile, the jury awarded the prize to the project Ardutraffic: el eco-semáforo, by the Luis Amigó Curiósity team from Colegio Luis Amigó in Mutilva (Navarra).

Regarding the Digital Transformation for Social Innovation challenge, the public voted for the Educaand STEAM project by the Educaand Box team from IES San Blas in Aracena (Huelva), whereas the jury's prize went to the students from La Vall in Bellaterra (Barcelona) and their team Custos, for their project CUSTOS eficiencia, innovación y patrimonio en un solo sistema. 

Lastly, in the Climate and Ecosystems in Balance category, the public awarded the prize through a popular vote to the Autillo project by the Artemisas Vigilantes team from Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen in La Unión (Murcia). Additionally, the jury awarded the Okamurae project, developed by the Okamurae Team from IES Santo Domingo in El Puerto de Santa María (Cádiz).

A persistent educational gap

According to data from the ASTI Foundation's STEM Observatory, 7 out of 10 female students in Secondary Education (ESO) and Bachillerato (A-Levels equivalent) are interested in science. However, 40% experience anxiety towards mathematics, and only one in ten wants to become an engineer. Furthermore, barely 2% of ESO students and 1% of Bachillerato students plan to study an ICT degree. Similarly, data from the 2022 PISA Report show that only 7.3% of 15-year-old Spanish girls expect to work in science or engineering, and women make up just 16% of STEM professionals, highlighting the persistence of the gender gap in these fields.

RedeSTEAM aims to help reverse this situation by boosting young women's interest, confidence, and empowerment in STEAM disciplines from an early age. As part of the 'STEAM Alliance for Female Talent: Girls in Science' driven by the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, the initiative seeks to engage female students in these disciplines. Through a challenge that encourages critical thinking and practical application, it aims to combat stereotypes and promote a greater female presence in sectors that are strategic to the country's development.

Find out more information about the winning projects at this link