ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig not only strives to promote young talent, it also actively supports women in science. Therefore once again, we were excited for the opportunity to invite interested girls to our center for Girls’ Day 2025 on April 3, 2025. Both of our locations offered a versatile program to inspire stereotype-free career choices and awaken the girls’ interest for AI and computer science.

Girls’ Day 2025 in Dresden

In Dresden, ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig joined forces with the Center for Information Services and High Performance Computing (ZIH) and the Interactive Science Lab (ISL). Together, the three departments of Center for Interdiscip­linary Digital Sciences (CIDS) provided an insight into digitalization at TUD Dresden University of Technology.

Machine Learning at the Living Lab

In the morning, seven girls met up with our team at the Living Lab for an introduction to CIDS by Jacqueline Papperitz and ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig by Gina Valentin. Afterwards, Norman Koch teached the girls’ the theoretical foundations of machine learning by introducing them to our software asanAI. Dr. Iryna Okhrin continued by telling the girls about various machine learning methods.

Supercomputers at the Lehmann Center Data Center

Afterwards, we moved from Andreas-Pfitzmann-Bau to the Lehmann Center Data Center, where ZIH provided an insight into High Performance Computing (HPC). Carsten Tiede guided the girls on a tour through the data center, in which they learned how our supercomputers work. Later on, Christina Mühlbach presented the various study and vocational training opportunities at ZIH and TU Dresden, before the girls could test their knowledge on computers in a short and engaging quiz.

History of Computing Technology at SLUB

After lunch at Alte Mensa, we took the girls to the Sächsische Landesbibliothek – Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden (SLUB). Monika Reich presented the history of the computing technology at TU Dresden. The girls visited a pop-up exhibition of CIDS, which brought our research to life. Furthermore, they were able to try out numerous interactive exhibits such as the Magic Mirror themselves. To end the day, the girls visited the Makerspace, where they designed their own name badges with a laser cutter and printed fabric bags with a design of their choice. Of course, the girls were allowed to take all of these souvenirs home!

Girls’ Day 2025 in Leipzig

The doors of the Living Lab also opened in Leipzig for Girls’ Day. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 19 interested girls got to know the world of AI and data research. During interactive presentations, various workshops and small discussion rounds with female researchers, many questions were asked and answered:

• Why is it worth pursuing a career in science?
• Do I even have to study computer science to work in an AI research center?
• What makes your profession different from others?
• What is special about being a woman in science?

In the workshops, the girls learned how Machine Learning algorithms work, what stereotypes are involved in AI image processing and how data analysis can be used to create climate forecasts. The ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig robot dog Bernhard also generated a lot of enthusiasm. In the meantime, a team of reporters from Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) also visited the event and interviewed both the administration director of ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig in Leipzig, Dr. Eric Peukert, and some of the interested schoolgirls.

What is Girls’ Day?

Girls’ Day motivates girls to make stereotype-free career choices. Further information is available on the official website of the event. We thank all girls for their interest and hope to see them again in the future – as trainees, students or colleagues at ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig!