Frederick University and Chevron Cyprus joined forces to organize a special STEM Day on Tuesday, 16 June, building on the University’s established STEM outreach activities and specifically designed to engage the local community of Pallouriotissa.

Nearly 100 girls from A’ and C’ Primary Schools of Pallouriotissa had the opportunity to explore the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through hands-on experiments and interactive workshops centred on the theme “Nature and the Environment”. Guided by members of the University community, the participants designed a sustainable house model, explored nature through chemistry and physics experiments, and developed a robotics-based game focused on environmental protection.

The STEM Days form part of Frederick University’s broader campaign to encourage greater participation of girls and women in STEM fields. This event was the first in a series of STEM Days implemented with the support of Chevron Cyprus, aiming to broaden access to STEM experiences for girls from local communities and empower them through experiential learning, experimentation, and creative exploration.

The workshops were designed and delivered by members of the academic and research staff of Frederick University’s School of Engineering, School of Health Sciences, and School of Education and Social Sciences.

Mr Michalis Olympios, Principal of A’ Primary School of Pallouriotissa, said: “The girls were thrilled by the activities they participated in and spoke very positively about their experience. The teachers also praised the excellent organisation and the selection of activities, which were highly engaging and perfectly suited to the children’s age and level. This helped maintain the students’ interest throughout the day and enabled them to develop knowledge and skills in fields that are not traditionally among girls’ first choices.”

Ms Maria Dimou, Principal of C’ Primary School of Pallouriotissa, said: “Frederick University opened its doors to the two schools in our community and gave our students the opportunity to gain new experiences, become familiar with the University environment, and work in its laboratories in a creative and interactive way. The girls had the opportunity to try new things, take part in laboratory activities, experiment, and, through engaging hands-on experiences, explore fields of study that have traditionally been male-dominated. We hope that initiatives like this will continue and help foster a new culture around girls’ choices of study and future careers.”

Ms Melina Demetriou, Finance Manager at Chevron Cyprus, said: “Chevron is a proud partner of Frederick University’s STEM Day for girls aged 9-12. By supporting this initiative, we are helping to upskill the next generation of problem solvers and scientists.”

“We know that girls’ educational and career choices continue to be influenced by stereotypes and outdated perceptions about so-called ‘male’ and ‘female’ professions,” said Ms Natassa Frederickou, President of Frederick University Council. “Our goal is to give girls the opportunity to discover for themselves how creative, exciting, and full of opportunities the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can be, and to believe in their own potential. I would like to express our sincere thanks to Chevron Cyprus for its support and collaboration in implementing this initiative, which brings STEM Day activities closer to local communities and contributes meaningfully to empowering the next generation of girls and promoting gender equality in STEM fields. Special thanks are also due to the members of our University community -academic and administrative staff - who continue to support the University’s STEM activities with enthusiasm and dedication, as well as to our female student volunteers who participated as group leaders, serving as role models and a source of inspiration for the younger girls. Finally, I would like to warmly thank A’ and C’ Primary Schools of Pallouriotissa, together with their principals, for embracing our initiative and giving their students the opportunity to participate in this unique experience of exploration, learning, and creativity. Collaboration between schools, universities, and community partners is essential if we are to create more opportunities for girls and encourage them to dream without limitations.”