International Girls in ICT Day
Every year on the fourth Thursday of April, International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated to raise awareness about the need for greater representation of women in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
It is important that young women participate in the technology revolution, both in educational settings and professional environments. To promote awareness of the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage more girls and young women to pursue an education in one of these areas, International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated every year at the end of April.
Increasing the number of women at all levels is a top priority in our department, which is why we pay special attention to girls and young women in all our recruiting and outreach activities. There are currently several initiatives and campaigns aimed at tackling gender disparities and encouraging more women to take up technology roles. A prime example is the Informatiktage (Computer Science Days), an initiative supported by companies, organisations, universities and other hosts in the greater Zurich area, which aims to provide unique insights into computer science. At this yearly event, we offer workshops, talks, and exhibits showcasing some of the latest technologies. Specific courses for girls such as "Introduction to programming" are a crucial part of it.
Impressions from the course "Meitli programmieren" at this year's Informatiktage
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Associate Professor Dennis Komm (left) chairs the group for Algorithms and Didactics within the Institute for Theoretical Computer Science. He was the course guide for the workshop "Meitli programmieren". (Picture: Andreas Eggenberger / ETH Zurich) -
In this introductory course, the girls constructed geometric patterns and amazing images, such as mandalas. (Picture: Andreas Eggenberger / ETH Zurich) -
The girls that participated showed great interest and enthusiam for understanding and solving problems. (Picture: Andreas Eggenberger / ETH Zurich)
To attract more talented women, as well as to support students and staff at the department, CSNOW - Network of Women in Computer Science - was founded back in 1993. Supervised by a professor and spearheaded by two postdocs or doctoral students, their primary activities include organising events, establishing mentoring programs for women students, and organising try-out computer science weeks for women baccalaureate school students. The latter, also known as "Schnupperstudium," is a bi-annual flagship event that attracts 20-30 young women from Switzerland, Germany, and Luxembourg. Over three to five days, participants gain insights into computer science studies at ETH Zurich, at the Bachelor's level and beyond, and learn about potential career opportunities.
Impressions from the last Schnupperstudium
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Natasha Savic (CSNOW) explains algorithms on the blackboard before diving into a hands-on programming workshop. (Picture: Nicole Davidson / ETH Zurich) -
Teamwork in the hackathon is a sure way to improve coding skills while making new friends. (Picture: Nicole Davidson / ETH Zurich) -
Participants of the Schnupperstudium and CSNOW members get to know each other and the ETH Zurich campus. (Picture: Cara Cerny)
International Girls in ICT Day provides an opportunity to shine a light on the ongoing underrepresentation of women in STEM, but also to express gratitude to everyone in our department, at ETH Zurich and beyond, who contributes to the many programmes and events that motivate girls and young women alike. Although the share of women among staff and students has grown over the past few years in our department, increasing the percentage of women at all levels remains an essential goal. A gender-balanced study, research, and work environment benefits everyone.