User:LMG.editing/Concha Monje

Concepción Alicia Monje Micharet (Badajoz) is a Spanish researcher specialized in the robotics field. She is a titular professor of the University Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M) where she forms part of the group of investigation RoboticsLab working on architectures of control for robots humanoides.

Path
In 2006, she got the doctorate in Industrial Engineering in the University of Extremadura, winning the  Extraordinary Prize, the Quotation of European Doctorate and the qualification Cum Laude. In the same year, she incorporated to the University Carlos III of Madrid where she gives classes on modelling and control of dynamic and robotic systems. She is a constitute of the RoboticsLab, the international group of the UC3M, one of the most important of Spain and one of the first of Europe in investigation on humanoid's robots. She is the director of the Centre of Training and Aeronautical Services (CATS-UC3M), made to give services to companies of the aerospace sector. Also, Concha has collaborated in other projects of investigation with centres of international prestige such as the United States, France or Germany. Furthermore she has led more than a dozen of projects with high technological transfer for companies like FerroNats or Thales Alenia Space.

Concha Monje has participated and directed many international conferences of huge importance in the scientific community, where she develops her work.

She is the author of numerous academic articles that publishes regularly in magazines of big repercussion in the field of the robotics.

In 2010, she received the award for Best Scientific Publication from Control Engineering Practice magazine and published the book, in collaboration with other authors, "Fractional-order Systems and Controls: Fundamentals and Applications," by Springer Publishing. She is an expert evaluator for the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program, which funds research and innovation projects. Additionally, she is a national research evaluator for the Ministry of Competitiveness and Industry of Spain. Monje also participates in the European project RoboCom++, which involves over twenty countries and aims to develop the future's assistive companion robot..

TEO
Among the work that Monje has been developing over the past fifteen years at UC3M, one notable area of research is the humanoid robot TEO. With human-like size and weight, this bipedal robot is designed to provide highly efficient assistance services that enhance people's quality of life. Monje's work primarily focuses on the control system of its operation, which, according to her, "involves equipping robots with soft components that make them safer in interaction with humans and enable them to access more complex spaces, such as those encountered in rescue situations.". This technology can apply to the development of exoskeletons for the rehabilitation of human members damaged by accidents. The investigation carried out with the robot TEO has a recognised prestige, as they show it the more than twenty international project that have created from this pioneering prototype in his species and that gathers the greater scientific advances in robotics.

Visibility of the women and scientific divulging
Aware of the historical neglect suffered by many female scientists who came before her, Monje considers it a matter of vital importance to raise awareness of the role women play in science and technology. She believes it is crucial to recognize the achievements of women in order to achieve true and effective equality and empower women in the scientific field. This commitment plasma in his active participation with entities and organisms of equality like the Women's Institute or in actions developed with reason of the International Day of the Woman and the Girl in the Science. Likewise, his continuous popularising work has carried him to collaborate with distinct programs of radius and television, participate like scientific adviser in the film Automaton, starred by Antonio Banderas, or give a talk TED in Vitoria, Spain, in 2017 and in September of 2020.

Recognitions
Concepción Monje has received:


 * The Prize to the Best Contemporary Scientist 2017, awarded by the magazine of scientific dissemination QUO, collaborating with the Upper Council of Scientific Investigations (CSIC).
 * The Woman and Technology, due to her work in favor of the visibility of the woman in the science and the technology and the scientific dissemination, standing out her work of investigation.
 * The Foundation Orange (2018).
 * The Prize of Excellence (2018), of the ucm3.m.
 * The Prize Ada Byron to the "Mujer Tecnóloga", of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Deusto, in 2019.

Contribution to the feminist movement
Concha Monje is a strong advocate of the feminist movement, which is why she has carried out significant actions as mentioned earlier, since she was young. She chose to break free from the stereotypes imposed by society and has made significant contributions to the ideology of this movement. Here is an excerpt from an interview with her:

When boys and girls are young, they enjoy the same things. Studies indicate that until around the age of seven, there is no differentiation of interests between the two genders. However, this is largely influenced by social factors. From that age onward, they begin to feel the pressure to fit into a group and adapt to what is socially accepted. Breaking away from that group can be challenging as it carries the risk of rejection.

The problem and sadness arise when discrimination occurs because one does not conform to the established norm. This is absurd because there shouldn't be a norm that defines what is right or wrong. However, people feel compelled to choose not to be rejected by others, which limits their freedom of choice.

Historically, boys and girls have had different ways of playing, with different toys. For example, girls were rarely provided with video games, programming devices, or circuits to build. Instead, they were encouraged to engage in activities considered more "feminine," such as cross-stitching. Some girls, like her, decided to pursue different paths, but the majority adhered to activities traditionally assigned to their gender.

It is important to recognize that the abilities of boys and girls are equal and that their interests are not limited by gender. Girls are also attracted to technology, for example. However, social factors and gender expectations steer them away from those paths. The key lies in treating everyone equally, providing them with the same opportunities and tools, and allowing them to make decisions freely regarding their interests and preferences.

Through this thought, Concha relies on expressing gender equality and freedom of choice.