DTU

Young women break down stereotypes and get excited about technology

45 women of high school age participated in DTU's Engineering Camp during the autumn break. The camp provided women with the opportunity to try various technologies and focus on diversity.

The young women stand in front of the powered wind machine. Viggi Liv Sørensen on the far left. Photo: Mikal Schlosser.

Thursday 26 October 2023

Magnus Stenaa Jensen

The noise gradually increases from the large wind machine, and soon the participants’ hair is flying in all directions. The women are at the Engineering Camp at DTU, which extends from Tuesday to Thursday during the autumn break.

The camp aims to inspire the women and introduce them to technology, with a special focus on study programs with few female participants. Only about one out of three students at DTU are women, and in some study programs, the gender gap is even larger.

"Before the camp, I was quite scared to pursue an education at DTU. I thought it was a university for boys," says Viggi Liv Sørensen, a 1st-year student at Ørestad Gymnasium.

During the camp, the women, among other things, built their own speakers and created name tags using a 3D printer.

"The camp has been an eye-opener for me. I had feared that being an engineer meant just sitting in front of a computer. I've learned that it can also be more practical and creative, and that's what appeals to me. I want to bring my ideas into reality," says Viggi Liv Sørensen who, after the camp, can imagine studying chemical engineering at DTU.

It doesn't have to be male-dominated

At the camp 11 DTU students are hosts and set the young women to work on various tasks. One of the tasks is generating electricity from the light of a projector using solar cells. With a saw and wooden sticks, the solar cells are set at the right angle to receive the most energy from the projector.

Among the DTU students is Maiken Nilsson, who is a BEng-student in electrical energy technology. She knows what it's like to be a part of the minority in her field:

"There are only two women in my year. I believe it's due to stereotypes and lack of information. That's why it's important for me to be part of the camp and tell others that my field isn't necessarily as masculine and electrician-like as many may think. It doesn't have to be this male-dominated field," says Maiken Nilsson.

Maiken Nilsson in the green shirt tests how much electricity the solar cell produces from the projector's rays. Photo: Mikal Schlosser.
Back at the wind machine, Natalie Yousif from Sukkertoppen Gymnasium's 3rd year measures how much electricity the wind generates with the help of a turbine that captures the wind's energy, just like in a wind turbine. She enters the results on the computer with concentration.

"It's been a great camp where I've gained insight into what it means to be an engineer. It can be hard to imagine in advance. It was great to tackle tasks that you can dig into and immerse yourself in," says Natalie Yousif.
In front of the computer, Natalie Yousif enters the results while her partner measures the wind's effect. Photo: Mikal Schlosser.

A strong community

"I tried to make it twerk," says one of the young women. In front of her is a white robotic arm that she can make dance to music using a computer.

Sidsel Lindved Møller, who has just started her master's degree in design and innovation, helps the young women program the robotic arms.

"Some of us women have different interests than many of the men, but that's precisely what contributes to progress. We should inspire each other with our different backgrounds," says Sidsel Lindved Møller.

Every evening, a bus picks up the young women and takes them to a hostel where they spend the night.

"The first evening at the hostel, they all sat together playing cards. It was amazing to see how quickly a sense of community was created. They're really good at helping each other. Some have never held a screwdriver before, while others already have a lot of experience," says Sidsel Lindved Møller.

The day concludes with the announcement of the Engineering Camp's winner, awarded to the group of young women who has scored the most points in the camp's competitions and quizzes.

Sidsel Lindved Møller on the left helps get a robotic arm to move to the music. Photo: Mikal Schlosser.

IT Camp for young women of high school age

It wasn't just the Engineering Camp that took place during the autumn break. From October 14th to 16th, young women participated in the IT Camp at DTU.

The women had the opportunity to program, learn about algorithms, and ask questions to experienced professionals and DTU students.

The purpose of the IT camp, like the Engineering Camp, is to make young women curious about educational paths where there are very few women.