More than 60 girls from the local community participated in a STEM Day at Frederick University on Saturday, 6 April. Through workshops in Robotics, Pharmaceutical Science, Architecture, and Civil Engineering, girls aged 9–12 explored STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) where women are traditionally underrepresented. They also took part in an Empowerment Workshop designed to boost confidence and self-esteem.

STEM Day for Girls is a biannual event at Frederick University, offering free, engaging, and educational workshops designed to inspire young girls in the community to explore the exciting fields of science, technology, and engineering. Parents also participate in interactive sessions, learning tools and strategies to support their children and foster growth without gender stereotypes. The event is part of Frederick University’s long-term campaign, “To all women & girls: Join the journey in Engineering, Science, and Technology,” which aims to increase the participation of girls and women in STEM fields and raise public awareness to challenge stereotypes and societal barriers that continue to limit their study and career choices. The campaign is under the auspices of the Commissioner for Gender Equality, Ms. Jozie Christodoulou.

The workshops were specially designed for the event by Frederick University’s academic and research staff and the University’s Robotics Academy, aiming to introduce children to science, engineering, and technology concepts. This year’s theme was water. In the Architecture and Civil Engineering Workshop, participants learned about the role of water in these fields, including infrastructure such as dams and bridges, and water’s use as a key component in cement. In the Robotics Workshop, they learned how to control water power in a robotic water mill, while in the Pharmaceutical Workshop, they discovered that water, besides extinguishing fires, can also sometimes cause chemical reactions that produce them.

Alongside the children’s activities, parents attended a workshop on encouraging and strengthening their children’s self-esteem, conducted by Dr. Marios Theodorou, Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and Social Sciences at Frederick University. The event also included a presentation on women in Science, Technology, and Engineering, in which Ms. Natassa Frederickou, President of the Council of Frederick University, highlighted the importance of increasing female representation in these fields. Faculty, administrative staff, students, and alumni of Frederick University participated in the STEM Day.

Ms Frederickou said: “We are particularly pleased to see girls and their parents responding in large numbers and with enthusiasm to our initiatives, such as STEM Day for Girls. This fills us with optimism and inspires us to continue our action in this crucial field. The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields is a significant issue with far-reaching implications. To address this disparity and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 related to gender equality, it is crucial to develop and execute specific and deliberate interventions that target and encourage women to participate in STEM at all levels. The STEM Days, which are regularly organized at Frederick University, are integral parts of our educational initiatives designed to foster an early interest in STEM among girls in the wider community.”

Following the successful organization of STEM Day, Frederick University is preparing to host its next STEM Camp for girls, which takes place once a year and includes a series of experiential workshops for girls aged 13-16. During these workshops, girls will have the opportunity to explore, create, experiment, build, and solve problems. The program will also include visits to relevant organizations and meetings/discussions with women who excel in these fields and who can serve as a source of inspiration for these girls. More information and the registration process for the workshops will be announced soon.

For more information about Frederick University's campaign: https://www.frederick.ac.cy/women-in-STEM/el/