Fraunhofer Science Campus: Female STEM-students visit Fraunhofer ITEM

Press release /

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Science Campus being held from September 24th to 26th at four Fraunhofer Institutes in Braunschweig and Hannover hopes to attract female students and graduates in the STEM subjects to work in applied research. Key content includes the diverse fields of application in surface engineering and thin films (IST), innovative materials made from renewable raw materials (WKI), pharmaceutical production and testing (ITEM), and wind energy systems (IWES).

The participants of the Science Campus 2018 at Fraunhofer ITEM.
© Fraunhofer ITEM
The participants of the Science Campus 2018 at Fraunhofer ITEM.
Fraunhofer researcher Olga Danov showed the Fraunhofer ITEM immunology laboratory to the participants of the Science Campus 2018.
© Fraunhofer ITEM
Fraunhofer researcher Olga Danov showed the Fraunhofer ITEM immunology laboratory to the participants of the Science Campus 2018.
Fraunhofer researcher Alexander Clement shows the different areas of translational biomedical engineering at Fraunhofer ITEM to the participants of the Science Campus.
© Fraunhofer ITEM
The different areas of translational biomedical engineering at Fraunhofer ITEM were also shown to the participants of the Science Campus.

“Along with the career program TALENTA, the Science Campus is one of numerous measures intended to increase the proportion of female scientists at Fraunhofer. The event offers direct insight into current research projects for budding young female scientists. They have the opportunity to inform themselves about and discuss the variety of career opportunities at Fraunhofer,” says Professor Alexander Kurz, Executive Vice President Human Resources, Legal Affairs and IP Management at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

 

Knives that sharpen themselves

 

At the Science Campus, everything revolves around the research of the four hosting Fraunhofer Institutes. The Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST is presenting the varied possibilities offered by tailor-made surfaces, from knives that sharpen themselves, to intelligent tools that measure force and temperature, to mini-labs in a bag that produce stem cells.

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research WKI are explaining how to determine the odor intensity and odor type of interior materials. They are inviting Science Campus participants to produce a particle board with them. In doing so, the scientists are demonstrating the benefits of innovative materials made from renewable raw materials.

 

New possibilities for active substance tests

 

The Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM is offering insights into the production of pharmaceutical products with the help of biotechnology processes (Braunschweig branch) and demonstrating new testing possibilities for active substances (Hannover branch) that can eliminate animal research.

Among other things, the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology IWES at its branch lab in Hannover is examining the question of how to safely support wind energy systems. Science Campus participants will have the opportunity to get actively involved in the test center for wind energy systems, and to solve practical problems in teams.