Event togetHER in tech at BUT introduced high school girls to the world of technology

The togetHER in tech event, held at the end of March at Brno University of Technology, showed that technical fields are by no means just a male domain. The aim of the meeting was to encourage high school girls to take an interest in studying technology and to show them that women have an irreplaceable role in engineering professions.

This year's edition of togetHER in tech was once again a success. | Author: Václav Široký

Students in years 1–4 of secondary schools had the opportunity to experience university life and discover their technical potential at two faculties of Brno University of Technology – Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication. The aim of the programme, which was attended by nearly forty girls, was to motivate participants to develop an interest in studying modern technologies through presentations and workshops.

“Compared to the pilot year, we welcomed significantly more participants to BUT this year. It is clear that high school girls are interested in technical fields, which makes me very happy. Thanks to last year’s success, the format also expanded abroad this year, with eight additional European institutions joining the event as part of the Chips of Europe project,” said the event coordinator and FME researcher Katarína Rovenská.

Organizer Katarína Rovenská. | Author: Václav Široký

Technology First-Hand

The programme began with introductory activities and a discussion on women in technology. Students Aneta Opluštilová and Johana Ronschak, doctoral candidates Veronika Junasová and Elena Vaníčková, and FME graduate Tereza Konečná, who now works at Thermo Fisher Scientific, shared their experiences. “I liked that the presentations included how each of the women got to their studies, and that it doesn’t have to be something you’ve loved since childhood – there are many different paths,” said one of the participants.

Girls had the opportunity to share their experiences with the equipment. | Author: Václav Široký

After the discussion, the girls attended a physics lecture, connected via an online call with participants from other European universities involved in the event, and also shared a lunch at the university canteen.

The afternoon was dedicated to hands-on workshops. The students tried advanced nanocharacterisation using an electron microscope, assembled electrical circuits, took part in a soldering workshop, explored 3D scanning, and visited laboratory cleanrooms. According to feedback, these activities were among the most popular parts of the programme because they allowed the girls to try things themselves and gain new skills firsthand.

They also visited the cleanrooms. | Author: Václav Široký

The togetHER in tech event took place simultaneously at nine European institutions – BUT, Infineon Austria, Université Paris-Saclay, Infineon Germany, Hochschule Munchen, Technical University Sofia, EnduroSat, University of Southern Denmark, and the University of South-East Norway. Brno University of Technology thus became a pioneer of this popular educational format and helped launch a broader initiative supporting greater involvement of women in technical and scientific fields.