{"id":15777,"date":"2026-04-27T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zbt.de\/?post_type=news&p=15777"},"modified":"2026-09-24T14:32:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T14:32:00","slug":"girls-day-2026-at-zbt","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/zbt.de\/en\/news\/girls-day-2026-at-zbt\/","title":{"rendered":"Girls' Day 2026 - Girls' Future Day at the ZBT - Insights into Hydrogen Research"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Girls’ Day 2026 – Girls’ Future Day at the ZBT – Insights into Hydrogen Research<\/h1>\n

Once again this year, the ZBT participated in the nationwide Girls’ Day<\/strong> and welcomed five high school students, who spent the day gaining insights into hydrogen and fuel cell<\/strong> research. The goal of this event is to inspire<\/strong> girls to pursue careers and degree programs in science and technology<\/strong> and to provide them with hands-on experience<\/strong> in research and development environments. <\/p>\n

Our doctoral student Miriam Hesse<\/strong> accompanied the participants throughout the day. After a brief introduction to the institute and the basics of fuel cell technology, the focus was primarily on hands-on work. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \"\"\n
\n <\/figure>\n <\/section>\n
\n
\n

Practical Insights into the Manufacturing of Fuel Cell Components<\/h2>\n

In the workshop, the students first received safety training<\/strong> and were introduced to personal protective equipment and the machinery used<\/strong> by workshop manager Mario Crisogianni and technician Yury Shamaev. With the team\u2019s support, they then manufactured individual components for their own fuel cell models<\/strong>. Among other things, they used a waterjet cutting machine<\/strong> and a CNC milling machine<\/strong>. In addition, the participants processed their workpieces by filing, deburring, drilling, and sandblasting. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \"\"\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\n

Experience Chemical Processes Up Close<\/h2>\n

Another part of the programme took the students to the chemistry lab<\/strong>. After receiving a safety briefing specific to the lab, the students galvanised<\/strong> copper coins<\/strong> under the guidance of our chemistry lab technician, Adolf Malku\u00df. Through this experiment, they were able to clearly understand basic chemical processes<\/strong> and observe how the surface of the coins changed visually. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \"\"\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\n

Electronics and Assembly: Building Your Own Fuel Cell Model<\/h2>\n

Back in the workshop, the next item on the agenda was soldering electronic components<\/strong>. Together with mechatronics engineer Domenic Rudolph, the participants populated circuit boards with LEDs, switches, and battery holders. Finally, they assembled the individual parts they had previously fabricated into a functional, cell-phone-sized fuel cell model<\/strong> that lights up at the push of a button. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \"\"\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n
\n
\n

Sparking an Interest in Science and Technology<\/h2>\n

The Girls’ Day<\/strong><\/a> offered the students a diverse glimpse<\/strong> into the interdisciplinary research work<\/strong> at the ZBT and demonstrated the wide variety of careers in the fields of natural sciences, technology, and engineering.<\/p>\n

Girls’ Day is a nationwide career and college exploration day<\/strong>. It is aimed at girls and gives them insights into careers and college programs in which women have traditionally been underrepresented\u2014particularly in the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology, and the trades. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \"\"\n
\n <\/div>\n <\/figure>\n<\/section>\n
\n

Gallery<\/h4>\n
\n \n
\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n