Girls’ Day 2023: inspired by science and technology at a young age
The annual Girls’ Day took place again on 30 March. It’s a day that gives girls the opportunity to experience how valuable and fun a technical education can be. Fifty pre-university students aged between 13 and 16 from Schiedam visited TU Delft’s 3mE faculty to learn more about mechanical engineering and – new this year – marine technology.
If you’d like to learn more or contribute to a future Girls’ Day, then please contact Maretta Jol (m.l.jol@tudelft.nl).
There’s still a lot of ground to be gained when it comes to the number of women studying or working in engineering. That’s why it’s important to inspire and inform girls at a young age. During Girls’ Day, this was done with a varied programme. The girls were able to test their skills in the workshop by folding a laser-cut piece of steel into a design. They also tried their hand at building a stable structure that floats on water. Even with simple materials (paper cups and skewers), it became clear how many different techniques were involved in the process. Finally, the girls discovered the possibilities of biomechanics. They learned how a prosthetic hand works and practised with a surgical tool. ‘I never thought you would be able to do this with technology,’ one of the girls said. The experience changed 75% of the girls’ perception of a science and technology education in a positive way, according to the evaluation.
I never thought you would be able to do this with technology.
We need women
Girls, like boys, are talented in scientific subjects. The fact that women don’t choose to study and work in these fields is the result of gender stereotyping, a limited perception of science and technology studies and careers, low self-confidence in science subjects and a lack of role models (source: National Expert Organisation on Girls/Women and Science/Technology - VHTO). Yet the demand for talented people in science and technology will only increase in the coming years due to major societal challenges. A technology sector that reflects society will ensure better and more diverse technologies for our society.
Increased focus
Girls’ Day is a national initiative of the VHTO and involved more than 9,000 girls and 250 companies this year. The female role models from the 3mE faculty who participated in Girls’ Day clearly see the added value. ‘Girls aren’t focusing on science and technology enough, if at all. But they really do belong here,’ says the chair of the Women in Engineering Committee (the Leeghwater Student Association). Hopefully, this Girls’ Day will have inspired a few more girls, and perhaps we’ll see them back in the lecture theatres in a few years’ time.
