The mural honoring the IBSAL and INCyL researcher and USAL professor is located at IES Enric Valor in Picanya and was created by artist Udane Juaristi “Udatxo”
This is the first mural of the 2026–2027 school year and the 51st in the project
The Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) today unveiled the first mural of its “Women in Science” project for the 2026–2027 academic year. The mural pays tribute to Conchi Lillo, a researcher from Huelva at the Institute of Biomedical Research in Salamanca and the Institute of Neurosciences of Castile and León, a professor in the School of Biology at the University of Salamanca, and one of the country’s most renowned science communicators. Created by artist Udane Juartisti “Udatxo” (Azkoitia, Gipuzkoa), it is located at the IES Enric Valor high school in Picanya.
“It’s wonderful, absolutely amazing. For me, being part of this project is a true gift. I never would have imagined having a mural. It’s one of those things you see in other people you admire so much and think, ‘What a wonderful initiative!’, but you never picture yourself painted in big letters in a high school courtyard. It’s a huge honor that I’m still processing. I was able to follow its progress through the photos Udane posted as the mural came to life, but seeing it in person has been overwhelming,” Lillo said, visibly moved.
The mural features a portrait of Conchi Lillo as its central figure, accompanied by a large eye in shades of gray—a visual reference to her research on vision. Udatxo combines intense blues and a yellow and orange stripe with the warm tones of the face and the blacks, whites, and grays of the eye. The loose brushstrokes and splashes of color lend movement to the composition, which makes use of the wall’s two planes to connect the researcher’s portrait with her field of study.
“It has been very rewarding for me to be part of this project, as it highlights the work of women in both the scientific and artistic fields. And that has really motivated me. On the other hand, I think bringing art into schools is very beneficial for students, because it makes art more accessible to them. Plus, through this project, I’ve been fortunate to learn more about Conchi and her amazing work,” says Udatxo.
A role model for students
“This mural is not simply a work of art that we are unveiling today. It is a legacy we are leaving for our students. Every day, as they walk past this wall, our students will have the opportunity to remember that science has names, faces, and stories. And that behind every discovery there are women who one day asked themselves a question and decided to seek the answer, even knowing that there would be many obstacles along the way, ”said Miriam Lorente, principal of IES Enric Valor in Picanya.
During the event, students from IES Enric Valor had the opportunity to learn firsthand about some of the highlights of Conchi Lillo’s career, as well as a few anecdotes and her most immediate challenges. “Our students were able to get to know her a little better and ask her questions. And this is the best bridge we can build between science and education, because Behind every question lies curiosity. And behind curiosity may lie a calling. “, Lorente added.
For her part, Conchi wanted to convey a “very important message” to all the students: that whatever they do and whatever they choose to pursue in life, they should do it with passion and with the goal of improving their own lives and the lives of others. And that when they walk past the mural, they remember that this desire to learn can take us many places—until you see boys and girls on the other side of Spain every morning.”
Adela Cortina and Montserrat Calleja, the next honorees
The “Dones de Ciència” project at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) began in February 2019 with a mural dedicated to Margarita Salas on the facade of the UPV’s rector’s office. Since then, this initiative has combined urban art, science outreach, and education to raise the profile of women in science and bring their stories to younger generations, on the walls of schools such as IES Enric Valor.
Conchi Lillo’s mural is the first of this school year and the 51st in a project that will continue to grow throughout the school year with new murals, paying tribute to figures such as philosopher Adela Cortina and physicist Montserrat Calleja, among others.
And, once again this year, the project will receive support from the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) of the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.
About Conchi Lillo
Conchi Lillo (Minas de Ríotinto, Huelva, 1973) is a biologist and holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Salamanca, where she is a tenured professor of Cell Biology. She conducts her research at the Castilla y León Institute of Neuroscience and the Salamanca Institute of Biomedical Research. She studies the visual system and diseases that can cause blindness, such as age-related macular degeneration. She combines this work with science outreach to make knowledge about vision accessible to the general public.
