The Barcelona Zoo mourns the loss of Josefina Castellví, a former member of its Advisory Council, a pioneering woman in science in Spain and the first Spanish woman to take part in scientific programmes in Antarctica. As an oceanographer, she led expeditions and conducted research on polar ecosystems and marine biology. She leaves behind a scientific legacy that is still a benchmark today. Her career as a woman scientist is also a symbol of the presence and perseverance of women in research, inspiring new generations to explore science without gender limits.

In 2014, the original module of the first laboratory of the Spanish Antarctic Base Juan Carlos I, led by this tireless scientist, was transferred to Barcelona with the collaboration of the Zoo to become a tool for disseminating Antarctic science and raising awareness of the threats faced by the polar regions as a result of climate change.