Early in the morning, the lobby begins to fill with curious voices. Some gaze intently at a set of LEDs, others enthusiastically blow up balloons that will power small makeshift cars, and still others try to figure out how a robot can “guess” emotions. On 23 April, the 3rd edition of GIRLSTEAM brought together about 200 basic education students at the Oeiras Campus of Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, for a hands-on science and technology experience, marking the International Girls in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Day.
Starting at 10 a.m., participants were invited to engage in various activities related to subjects taught at Técnico. At one booth, participants built a traffic light using Arduino programming; at another, they explored game design; further along, a robot challenged participants to recognise emotions. “We wanted to give them a taste of what we do throughout the year and show them that they can program, build, and understand how everything works”, explained Maria João Verdasca, coordinator of the ‘Engenharia para Todos’ project. “And it works—it’s very visual and immediately grabs their attention”.
A few meters away, a group was testing the laws of physics with air-powered cars. “They start by predicting what will happen and then put it into practice. That way, they can better understand concepts like action and reaction”, said Ana Pinto, a monitor at Rob9-16, a robotics club run by Técnico students. “Many of them weren’t familiar with these concepts yet, but this way they learn almost without realising it”.
Various Técnico students’ groups were also present. At the Lisbon’s New Satellite (LISAT) project space—an initiative launched in 2024 at Técnico—small paper rockets were being built. “It’s a way to show what we do and, at the same time, encourage younger kids to take an interest in these fields”, explained Ana Dias, an aerospace engineering student at Técnico. The participants’ reaction left no doubt: “They know a lot—they talk about rockets, NASA, and ask questions. They’re really motivated”.
At other booths, participants explored topics such as vehicle dynamics, with the Formula Student (FST Lisboa) group explaining concepts like friction and suspension. They also learnt about climate change in a game format with the Centre for Management Studies of Instituto Superior Técnico (CEGIST), a research unit affiliated with Técnico, and hydrogen-based energy production with Técnico Fuel Cell.
“I really enjoyed building the robot and putting things together. It makes us think about what we might do in the future”, shared Alice, 11, highlighting the importance of female role models, such as Ada Lovelace, a 19th-century British mathematician considered the first programmer in history. “Girls shouldn’t feel like they aren’t capable”.
The initiative had an equal impact on the female teachers who accompanied the classes. Sandra Saraiva, from the Aquilino Ribeiro School Group, chose to bring only female students. “There’s still the idea that these fields aren’t for them. Moments like this help break down that barrier and show them that they can, in fact, pursue this path”.
“I think here they realise that there aren’t ‘boys’ or ‘girls’ subjects. There’s just what we enjoy”, summarised Catarina Lourenço, a second-grade teacher at Sá de Miranda Basic School.
“It’s important to start engaging with these fields early on”, emphasised Ana Moura Santos, a professor at Técnico and the coordinator of the ‘Inclusive Future’ project. “There’s a phase when many girls start to feel they aren’t capable, and initiatives like this help counteract that”. It was in this context that the eco-painting robot took center stage—built from recycled materials and capable of drawing autonomously—demonstrating in a practical way how sustainability and technology can go hand in hand.
Alice Brito, amidst the flurry of activities, summed up the event this way: “Girls shouldn’t be afraid—they, too, can be the ones to change the world.”
