100 years since the birth of Maria Assumpció Català i Poch, astronomer and mathematician

July 14, 2025, marks the centenary of the birth of Maria Assumpció Català i Poch, a pivotal figure in the history of Catalan science. A mathematician, astronomer, and professor, she was a pioneer in a male-dominated field, paving the way for future generations of female scientists.

Childhood and scientific vocation

Born in Barcelona on July 14, 1925, Català i Poch spent part of her childhood in Montblanc, where her father worked in banking. Her mother, a teacher by profession, left teaching when she married, as was common at the time.

It was her great-uncle, Jaume Poch i Garí, a professor of Geography and passionate about astronomy, who sparked her interest in the cosmos. During family outings, he taught her how to orient herself by the stars and tell time by observing shadows, thus beginning a fascination that would mark her entire life.

Training and first academic steps

After the Civil War, Català i Poch completed his high school studies at the Institut Maragall in Barcelona. In 1947, he enrolled at the University of Barcelona (UB) to study mathematics, the only path to astronomy at the time.

In a faculty with a small female presence, she stood out for her perseverance and academic excellence. In 1953, she graduated and began her teaching career as a teaching assistant in subjects such as General Astronomy, Topography, and Geodesy.

A pioneering scientific career

In 1970, Català i Poch became the first woman to earn a PhD in Mathematics at the UB, with a thesis on the dynamics of cylindrical symmetry star systems, focusing on the motion of stars in the Milky Way's disk. Three years later, she won the competition for professor of astronomy, becoming the first professional female astronomer at a Spanish university.

His research focused on positional astronomy, galactic dynamics, and solar observation. For over thirty years, he conducted systematic observations of solar spots and prominences from the UB Astronomy Chair Observatory, in collaboration with the National Astronomical Observatory. He also participated in the European Space Agency's Hipparcos project, dedicated to the precise measurement of stellar positions.

Commitment to teaching and outreach

Català i Poch combined research with intense teaching. He taught at various faculties of the UB and at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, where he taught Astrodynamics and Celestial Mechanics. He supervised eleven undergraduate theses and seven doctoral theses, training generations of astronomers and mathematicians.

Firmly committed to scientific outreach, she collaborated with the Spanish edition of National Geographic magazine as a scientific advisor on astronomy. She also participated in initiatives to highlight the role of women in science, such as the "She is an Astronomer" project.

Recognitions and legacy

Català i Poch's career has been recognized with several honors. In 2004, she was named honorary professor emeritus by the UB, and in 2009, she received the Cross of Sant Jordi from the Generalitat of Catalonia, one of the country's highest distinctions.

Since her death on July 3, 2009, her legacy has been commemorated in various ways. In 2016, the Dall-Kirkham telescope at the Center for the Observation of the Universe Observatory in Àger was named after her, becoming the first telescope in Spain dedicated to a woman. In 2018, the interior garden of the building located at 305 Comte Borrell Street in Barcelona was named the Jardí d'Assumpció Català in her honor.

Centenary of his birth

On the occasion of the centenary of her birth, various institutions have organized activities to commemorate and promote her work. The University of Barcelona, the Catalan Institute for Women, and other organizations have scheduled exhibitions, roundtable discussions, and conferences to pay tribute to her and inspire new scientific vocations among young women.

From femturisme.cat, we join in the celebration of the centenary of the birth of this great Catalan scientist. We want to pay tribute to Maria Assumpció Català i Poch not only for her academic merit, but also for her exemplary hard work, dedication, and love for science.