Discovering professions, challenging clichés: Girls*Day and Boys*Day at TU Dortmund University

Jill Timmreck, the coordinator of Girls*Day and Boys*Dayat TU Dortmund University, welcomed the students in separate welcome events. Three trainees from the university told the participants about their everyday working life and gave personal insights into their training in the glassblowing and chemistry laboratories. Julia Gulich from the Central Student Advisory Service presented the study options at TU Dortmund University. The students then moved on to the 16 workshops.

In the DLR_School_Lab at TU Dortmund University, the participants embarked on a journey into space - at least in theory. They explored how aerodynamics and vacuum work in space and what this means for life in a space station. In the "Codes and Circuits" workshop at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, everything revolved around programming. The girls developed small codes to switch a lamp on and off. Or they made their own paperweight in a craft-oriented workshop together with the workshop leader - a small but great souvenir of the day.

The result of another workshop was also impressive: Two girls came back with a tower that was taller than they were - made entirely out of paper! In the "Creative building and amazement" workshop at the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, they learned how to use the right techniques to create stable constructions that can withstand more than you think.

In the workshop run by the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the boys experienced first-hand how people with visual or mobility impairments cope with everyday life. They wrote messages in Braille, tried to communicate simply by looking and tested how a wheelchair can be steered safely. Many were particularly impressed by the technology that helps blind and visually impaired people: using special computer programs, they were able to have entire websites read aloud to them and learn how digital accessibility works.

"That was the most fun for me," said one participant enthusiastically. "Finding out what options are available if you are blind was really exciting."

The Chair of Social Structure and Sociology of Ageing Societies introduced the students to the world of sociology by getting them involved and conducting their own little study - just like real researchers.

Girls*Day and Boys*Day at TU Dortmund University offered the young people a lot of new impressions and practical experience. In addition to exploring various professions and study options, they also got to know the campus with its almost 40,000 students, trainees and employees.

But like every year, one thing remained a particular highlight: "I thought the coolest thing was that we were able to travel on the H-Bahn. That was really fun!" enthused one student.