Biography:
Marta Graciela Rovira is an Argentine astrophysics researcher who made significant contributions to the field and became the first woman to be named president of CONICET, the government agency that directs and coordinates most of the academic research performed in universities and institutes throughout the country.
Rovira’s interest in physics and mathematics began to emerge during her time in high school. Despite the prevailing encouragement for students to pursue vocational training, she was determined to pursue a scientific career. By the time her parents received the vocational test results, she had already enrolled in math and science courses, solidifying her path towards a career in science.
She went on to earn a degree in physics and a PhD in Physical Sciences from the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires. After completing her studies, she was offered a position at the Observatory of Cosmic Physics near Buenos Aires, which further deepened her passion for astronomy. Her research initially focused on studying the Sun, our closest star.
In 1979, Rovira began working at Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET). Over the years, she assumed various leadership roles and in 2008, she was appointed as the president of CONICET. In this role, she was responsible for directing efforts at 12 scientific and technological centers spread across different regions of the country, as well as overseeing numerous researchers.
During her tenure as president, she witnessed a significant increase in government funding for CONICET, with a 400 percent increase from 2003 to 2010. This increase allowed more researchers, fellows, and support personnel to enter the system, leading to a doubling of the total number of individuals affiliated with CONICET.
Apart from her contributions to CONICET, Rovira held various other leadership roles in the scientific community. She served as the Director of the Institute of Astronomy and Physics of Space (IAFE) from 1995 to 2005. Additionally, she was elected as the president of the Argentina Association of Astronomy for three terms, as well as the vice president of the International Astronomical Union, where she served as the Single Spot Contact from Argentina. She also held the position of President of the Latin American Association for Space Geophysics (ALAGE) from 1998 to 2004.
Throughout her career, Rovira has received recognition for her exceptional contributions to the field of astrophysics. In 2008, she was honored with a special mention by the Konex Awards.
Awards:
– Special mention by the Konex Awards, 2008