Within the framework of the European campaign Science, it's a girls thing, NEMO in Amsterdam organized a thematic day for pupils in secondary education on 30 November 2012. This event attracted 250 pupils from the 4th class of HAVO and VWO.
The pupils were met by female role models that have a job in the technical sector or IT, who told about their work from a practice-based viewpoint. In nine rounds of each ten minutes, groups of pupils could ‘speed date’ with the role models. I told from my experience at Waag about my job as a concept developer and about our activities in our Fablab. My audience reacted with enthusiasm on the examples of design objects that were made with digital fabrication and the machines in the Fablab. They asked whether it is hard to master the computer programmes and were curious whether it is possible to earn enough money as a designer ☺.
The girls were delighted by the combination of technology with creative and social aspects in our projects. Hopefully, this afternoon will inspire them to choose a technical higher education!
