Ellas en STEM

The platform @entreestudiantes promotes interest in the fields of science with "ellas en STEM." For Women's Month, the French Institute hosted a series of workshops on January 1st, led by women in STEM fields, aiming to inspire and encourage young women to gain a clear and broad view of the fascinating world of science, technology, mathematics, and engineering.

March 1st and 7th are key dates for all those interested in their professional and career future in Malabo. The educational platform @entreestudiantes has arrived in the capital of Equatorial Guinea to share the experiences of professional women in science, both from their student and work periods. For the first time, on March 1st, the French Institute of Equatorial Guinea (IFGE) transformed into a meeting point for female empowerment and the promotion of STEM careers. Graduates in agricultural engineering, chemistry, electrical engineering, and electronics conducted six interactive workshops, providing students from Santa Teresita School, Maarif International School, and others present with an enriching perspective on their fields of study.

The workshops focused on:

• Environmental Sciences: Mª Greta Mangue explained various soil analysis techniques, including pH measurement and the technical properties required for cultivation, helping students understand why certain foods grow in specific areas.

• Technology: Specialists from the Chicas en la Tecnología program of the IDENTIC foundation presented an innovative project for automatic light bulb activation, demonstrating how technology can make everyday life easier.

• Technological Sciences (Computer Science): Silvia Ivina shared fundamental concepts such as the difference between local networks and the internet, the importance of VPN certificates in business environments, and discussed job opportunities in computer science in Equatorial Guinea.

Technology (Academia Asta): Ramona Edú and Sara Abeso shared the techniques used by Academia Asta in Bata, an institution that introduces children as young as 7 years old to the world of technology. They teach them how to design elements that make life easier, from designing items to their implementation. This design process uses SolidWorks 2020, a program used by various international brands, focusing on identifying errors to optimize resources.

Electronic Engineering: Asunción Bueneke and Nardy Williams worked with students using electronic components to create electrical circuits, teaching them about building motherboards and the functioning of power supplies.

Chemical Engineering: Raquel Raso and Eudoxia Sima conducted experiments with water, oil, and consumable foods.

Isabel Eburi, founder of the platform and master of ceremonies at the event, pointed out that this is the fifth year since the platform began its activities. @Entreestudiantes was born from her desire to connect with professionals from her country who had studied similar careers, in addition to the uncertainties of not knowing how to proceed with her specialty. “We want to share what we’ve learned and help young people make informed decisions about their future,” she stated during the event’s introduction.

**Ellas en STEM** featured notable personalities such as Reginaldo Boricó Okomo, Director General of Artificial Intelligence Systems at the Ministry of Telecommunications, who emphasized the importance and need for society to introduce women into the field of science. He shared an experience he had with a taxi driver who questioned whether God agreed with women doing “men's work.” “Keep going. Don't let anything stop or hold you back. The inclusion of women in these areas is essential for the present and future of Equatorial Guinea,” he assured. Sese Sité, Director General of Youth, was also present. She thanked the platform for launching this initiative and the male youth who attended the event to support women in this cause: “This is the best way to celebrate Women’s Day,” she said proudly.

During the event, informative videos from two collaborators of the platform were shown. Sandra Ngomo, a biologist, programmer, and video game designer, wanted to highlight the positive aspects of video games from a distance. She emphasized how they can transform the future and impact lives in areas such as education, medicine, cognitive skill development, and therapy.

Mechanical engineering student Felisa Elá presented a video from Brazil, providing information about the career she is pursuing—mechanical engineering—as well as the gear systems common to everyday objects like blenders or washing machines.

Luis Mario Suga and Marlén Botey are two lucky 2nd-year high school students from Colegio Santa Teresita who were selected to attend. Although they missed the presence of other classmates interested in this field, they believe the event was timely in giving them a clear vision of what to focus on as they begin their university journey. It also served to show them the level of women and what they are capable of achieving. Marlén assured that she will choose cybersecurity or cardiology, and although Luis Mario loved the event, he is leaning toward a career in the humanities: Law.

The session concluded with an open panel for questions and answers from the attendees, who shared issues such as the challenges women face in the workplace, the necessity of these careers for the not-so-distant future of Equatorial Guinea, the adaptation of knowledge to the workforce, and the steps to follow between different engineering fields. The next event will again take place at the IFGE on Friday, March 7th, starting at 5:00 PM.