Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWSTwelve schoolgirls visited the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle (Saale) for Girls'Day. Instead of learning in the classroom, they were able to try out the dental laboratory and the precision engineering workshop and get to know the pilot plant and electron microscopes. The Girls' Future Day offered the opportunity to experience the world of research at first hand.
The schoolgirls from Halle (Saale) and the surrounding area used the Girls'Day to get to know research at the Fraunhofer IMWS and scientific work in general, and thus also to prepare for possible career profiles and career paths. The program included a tour of the institute and three stations where the girls could also get involved themselves.
First of all, the students learned about the mission of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the profile of the institute in Halle (Saale). During a tour of the pilot plant, they learned how modern research equipment such as X-ray computer tomographs are used for non-destructive materials testing, how accelerated aging tests are carried out in climate chambers, and how comparative measurements for photovoltaic modules can be carried out in a solar simulator.
At the station in the “Materials and Components for Electronics” business unit, work with high-resolution material diagnostics equipment was presented, including the necessary preparation of samples. The second station focused on the “cleaning performance of toothpastes and toothbrushes”, where the students traced the path from sample preparation to the execution of the experiment and microscopic analysis. In the Fraunhofer IMWS workshop, the girls were given a wide range of insights into the profession of a precision engineer and were able to try out various machines, materials and tools themselves.
Girls'Day, which has been taking place since 2001, offers insights into occupations in which women are underrepresented. The Fraunhofer IMWS has been a regular part of Girls'Day since 2009.
(07.04.2025)
