How does a radio telescope work? Why do you need software for this? And how can you use this knowledge in everyday life? During the national Girlsday on Thursday 24 April, girls from ages 14-15 will get answers to these questions at the astronomical institutes of ASTRON, JIVE and NOVA in Dwingeloo.
Published by the editorial team, 17 April 2014
This year, the Girlsday in Dwingeloo is special, because Gabby Aitink-Kroes (NOVA/ ASTRON), co-organiser of the day, recently won the ‘Engineer PowerWoman 2014′ award. This award, which was awarded last week at the world’s largest industrial exhibition the Hannover Messe, is awarded annually to a woman who is successfully active in the fields of mathematics, computing, natural sciences or technology and who has significantly contributed to her employer because of her dedication, ideas and results. On Girlsday, the astronomical institutes in Dwingeloo welcome the next generation of ‘PowerWomen’.
During Girlsday, scientists will introduce the girls to all aspects of astronomical research. They will chat with astronomers all over the world, do astronomical observations with the recently restored Dwingeloo telescope and they will write software. In this way, the organizations hope the girls will get acquainted with the daily profession in an interactive fashion.
Girlsday is a European initiative to make Young girls enthusiastic for beta, technology and ICT. The event takes place each year on the fourth Thursday in April. ASTRON, JIVE and NOVA introduce girls in this way to technology. The girls can get support in their choice of profiles in high school and the organisations lay the foundation for educating new technological and scientific talents.
the group of Girlsday 2013