From 7 to 11 February 2022, around sixty volunteers, all female scientists and engineers from CERN, Scienscope (UNIGE), the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) and the Annecy Particle Physics Laboratory (LAPP), visited over a hundred classrooms in the local region to talk to some 2680 pupils about their careers.

The goal of these presentations, organised to mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, which takes place on 11 February, was to change how children see scientific, technical and technological professions. And there’s no doubt that the volunteers’ talks helped a few of them – both girls and boys – to discover their vocations!

Despite the uncertain times, the classroom visits took place in person, in strict compliance with a protection plan approved by CERN and with the health and safety measures in force in schools in the Host States. A few visits were rescheduled and will take place as soon as the health situation allows. 

For the sixth year running, the Women and Girls in Science and Technology programme was a huge success. Since 2017, thanks to the ever-expanding cohort of ambassadors eager to share their passion, more than 13 000 pupils aged between 7 and 15 in the local region have learned about jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Are you a teacher who would like to take part in the 2023 event? Sign up for our education newsletter to find out what we offer and when registration opens!

Would you like to take part in the 2023 event as a volunteer? Contact the CERN events team to find out about our upcoming calls for volunteers!