Young women and engineering: bridging the gap

EPFL is stepping up its efforts to dispel cultural misconceptions about the engineering profession. Alain Herzog/EPFL 2019 - International Women's Day Series - Through education and science outreach initiatives, EPFL is stepping up its efforts to dispel cultural misconceptions about the engineering profession. Even though EPFL has plenty of students, not enough of them are women. There are many reasons why: because young girls lack self-confidence or don't dare take up the challenge; because they don't think engineering is for them, don't see a future for themselves in it, or simply don't have adequate information. What can be done to lift these cultural misconceptions that, all too often, keep women from studying engineering? EPFL has rolled out a comprehensive range of strategies to tackle this key challenge. The first strategy involves awakening, from an early age, children's interest in science and engineering. "Our programs when we visit primary and secondary schools are aimed at both boys and girls aged 7 to 16.