Together with BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, HNU organized a female researcher camp on the topic of "Smart Home" and innovative everyday helpers during the first week of the Whitsun holidays. The project sponsor of the camp is the Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e.V. On the first two days of the camp week, eight female students were able to gain practical insights into the company BSH Hausgeräte GmbH and understand the innovation and product development process. On Thursday and Friday, the students were guests at HNU.
Here, the students were able to program their own innovative everyday helper. Dany Meyer, Professor of Software Engineering and Deputy Women's Representative at HNU, developed an exciting assignment for the students. The goal was to program a plant watering system that uses a sensor to detect whether the houseplant still has enough water. If this is not the case, the houseplant can be watered automatically via a built-in pump. Using a smartphone or laptop, the sensor's status can also be conveniently monitored from any location.
"The idea behind the work assignment is to use a concrete task from everyday life to experience how a program of one's own can solve this problem. This promotes the learners' interest and self-efficacy - programming becomes a tool for implementing their own ideas," explains Professor Meyer.
On Friday, 02 June 2023, the final event of the camp took place at HNU, where the students presented their results of the week. Beforehand, there was also a short tour of the university. In addition to representatives from BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, the Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e. V. and the students' parents, a representative of the Bayerischer Unternehmensverband Metall und Elektro e. V. was also a guest at HNU. The welcome was given by the Vice President for Studies, Teaching and Sustainability at HNU, Professor Dr. Julia Kormann. During the presentation of results, the students showed how much they enjoyed the camp. Likewise, the learning gain became very clear. "Even without prior knowledge, all the students were able to complete the work assignment excellently and with fun in a short period of time and thus literally experience hands-on computer science with the programming of their irrigation system," concludes Professor Meyer.
The HNU team of women's representatives initiated the Researchers' Camp. The goal was to get female students interested in studying information technology. Contact with the company was established through the BayernMentoring network.
All in all, the camp week shows how important it is to create offers that arouse enthusiasm for technology and information technology in young people. Especially when they otherwise have little opportunity to discover their passion for it.
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About the activities of the HNU women's representative
The digital transformation needs the diversity and creative forces of everyone in study and work. Promoting the digital participation of women is therefore a central concern of the Women's Representative Prof. Dr. Claudia Kocian-Dirr. Because we are convinced that enthusiasm for the digital transformation can be awakened by role models, we present achievable role models, promote personal and professional development, and create spaces for constructive exchange. Our activities address all academic target groups, from students to lecturers and research assistants to professors. Workshops for schoolgirls complement our measures to create the basis for equal-opportunity digital participation at an early stage.
