Girls and technology: «Those who dare can only win»
Globi makes ETH Zurich unsafe in his latest adventure. The book aims to encourage children's enthusiasm for science. Rector Sarah M. Springman explains what children's pranks have in common with ETH - and why girls and technology are a great match.
Globi makes ETH unsafe - with a female professor at his side. That can't be a coincidence.
No, it's no coincidence. Diversity is very important to us. It has been scientifically proven that teams consisting of roughly equal numbers of women and men are more successful in solving problems. In this respect, it would not be intelligent for us to ignore half of our young people in the country. We particularly want to get girls interested in science and technology. That's why we wanted to show that it's quite normal to be a female professor at ETH.
Sarah Marcella Springman (60) has been Rector of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH) since January 2015. The Englishwoman joined the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering at ETH Zurich as a full professor in 1997, which she headed from 2001 to 2005 and from 2009 to 2011. At the beginning of her professional career, she worked as an engineer in industry, where she was involved in projects in England, Fiji and Australia. Sarah Springman was a very successful triathlete between 1984 and 1993 (three times European champion, twice fifth at the Ironman in Hawaii). She has been a member of the British Olympic Committee since 2008. She has received two Orders of the British Empire for her services to sport. (Photo: eth/HK)
You are the best example. You have been teaching in Switzerland since 1997 and were the first female professor of geotechnical engineering in Western Europe.
The first female professor was appointed at ETH in 1985. So I was only the first in my subject! 30 years ago, ETH was considered a male domain. But that has changed a lot. When I came to ETH 20 years ago, we had less than 10 per cent female students. Today it's already over 30 per cent.
But not in all degree programmes.
In degree programmes such as biology, pharmacy and health sciences, we actually have more women than men. In the engineering sciences, such as mechanical and electrical engineering, the proportion of women is only 10 to 15 per cent. We are working on increasing these figures. For example, I try to show my female students that it is possible to have a career as a woman in any scientific field.
How can parents get their sons and daughters interested in technology and science?
I often hear girls say that they want to change the world and make things better. At ETH, we also want to change the world and make things better. We have to show girls how this is possible through science and technology. Boys, on the other hand, often enjoy details, they are interested in how to build a robot or how to programme something. Both sexes should therefore be told that ETH is a place where ideas become reality. Children who study here have great opportunities to get interesting and varied jobs. As a professor, I have never once in my career looked at my watch in the hope that it would soon be closing time.
Would you like to pass on this experience?
Yes, absolutely. I was given the opportunity and took it. I think it's wonderful to accompany creative young people on their journey and help them discover their potential.
"Every child from this country should and may come to ETH if they have a school-leaving certificate and are interested and committed."
Many people think that ETH is elitist.
This is a misconception. The socio-economic aspects - i.e. where someone comes from - are irrelevant to us. Every child is an original researcher and all are welcome. Even those who come from less privileged families. After all, that's what scholarships are for! Every child from this country should and may come to ETH if they have a school-leaving certificate and are interested and committed. Curious young people are a great enrichment for us.
You are a geotechnical engineer. How did you come to study this subject?
I was always very interested in maths and physics and seemed to be quite good at them. For a long time, I was sure that I would study these two subjects. But when I was 15, I realised that I wanted to become an engineer. Initially I was an electrical engineer, then later a civil engineer and finally I specialised in soil mechanics.
You realised dam constructions in Fiji and Australia. Where did this interest in the forces of nature come from?
Even as a young girl, I built spillways in the garden at home. On holidays by the sea, I built dams out of sand and observed the course of the water, trying to hold back the erosion with stones and other things. I was simply fascinated by it.
They have utilised their potential. But some lack this self-confidence.
Yes, unfortunately that's true. A lot of women have enormous potential, but they underestimate their opportunities and lack self-confidence. I was no different, even if it seems hard to imagine today. But self-confidence can be developed. To do this, you need mentors to help.
And how do you achieve that?
On the one hand, we need to encourage women to tackle, try out and realise things, even if they may have doubts at first. This is the only way they can gain a sense of achievement. On the other hand, we need to raise awareness that setbacks and failures are not the end of the world. You simply ask yourself: "What can I do better next time?" and continue to develop. Either way, women win when they take action and dare to do something.
ETH professor Juraij Hromkovic recently called for computer science to become a school subject in its own right. Do you agree with him?
Absolutely. I firmly believe that computer science and programming is a language that children should learn today. Just like they learn French, English or maths. Computer science promotes such important basic skills as independent, creative and critical thinking.
Image: Fotolia
Read more:
You can read more about choosing a career in our special supplement in the new Swiss parents' magazine Fritz+Fränzi. From 4 May 2017 at newsagents or soon in your letterbox with your subscription.
You can read more about choosing a career in our special supplement in the new Swiss parents' magazine Fritz+Fränzi. From 4 May 2017 at newsagents or soon in your letterbox with your subscription.
