The MINT-Makerspace

• How can the potential and talents of women be better used than before for Germany's future innovations in the MINT subjects and professions?
• How can schoolgirls interested in MINT be inspired to choose a study and career in the MINT field in a participatory process?
• How can female students in the transition from Bachelor's to Master's and prospective university graduates be strengthened in their subject-related self-efficacy so sustainably that they consciously and confidently choose a field of activity in the MINT field as an ambitious, option-rich and promising career and life option?

During the project, starting in March 2025, our Open Photonics Makerspace Lichtwerkstatt External linkwill carry out creative offers regionally and nationally, taking into account the reach of an active and diverse network of actors. MINT knowledge transfer and awareness-raising are carried out with practical, ambitious tasks in the maker context and addressed to predominantly female scenes and communities from the field of design, creation and creativity in order to inspire schoolgirls for MINT study and work areas and to strengthen their MINT-related self-efficacy.

For MINT students and prospective MINT doctoral students, strong motivation and selection impulses are to be set for personal and professional development and ultimately for remaining in this field. Workshops, events, individual and team projects in electrical engineering, IT, process engineering and, last but not least, the well-known Jena optics, photonics and quantum technologies are accompanied by technically experienced role models and experts. The project is accompagnied by elements for outreach and science communication as well as an external evaluation.