Girls Go Big: A STEM Adventure | Engineering Edition
- Sep 17, 2025
- 3 min read
Women Mentors × Hands-On Learning × Breaking Gender Stereotypes—An Engineering Adventure Designed for Girls
Jointly organized by the Taiwan Women in Science and Technology Association (TWiST), the Taoyuan Department of Women and Children Development, and the Taoyuan North District Women’s Center, the third session of the “STEM Girls Growth Series—Girls Go Big: A STEM Adventure” took place on August 9.
Following the successful Science and Technology sessions, the Engineering Edition introduced participants to electrical systems through personal experiences shared by women mentors and hands-on electronic circuit activities. The program also challenged stereotypes about girls pursuing engineering.
Women Mentors’ Talk | Exploring Life: Balancing Education, Interests, and Work
The morning session featured a talk titled “Exploring Life: Balancing Education, Interests, and Work.” A member of the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Maker Club and founder of Dream Nest shared her experiences, helping participants understand the realities and possibilities of pursuing engineering.
Drawing from her own experiences, the mentor discussed how she developed time-management skills in high school and found connections between academic work and her creative interests. She also shared what inspired her to enter electrical engineering and the turning points along the way. She encouraged the girls to view choosing a major not as a decision that limits their future, but as a gateway to new possibilities.
She also responded honestly to questions such as: “Are girls really suited to electrical engineering?” and “Have you ever hesitated when choosing a major because of your gender?” These concerns are real and deserve to be recognized and discussed.
The mentor shared the challenges and breakthroughs she experienced at university, along with her personal motto: “Opportunities belong to those brave enough to take on challenges—just go for it!” Her sincere encouragement gave the girls greater hope and confidence.
The warm and enthusiastic discussion showed participants that girls can also pursue engineering and technology with confidence.
Hands-On Workshop | Build Your Own Turnip Card Reader
The afternoon featured the highly anticipated “Exploring Electronics: Arduino Creative Workshop.” Guided by student mentors from the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Maker Club, the girls were introduced to Arduino development boards and electronic components for the first time.
The workshop began with basic circuit principles and introduced components such as resistors, LEDs, and sensors. Participants then practiced programming, wiring, debugging, and uploading code before completing their own turnip card readers, combining software and hardware through hands-on experimentation.
One participant shared: “I thought electrical engineering would be very difficult, but I discovered that I could write code and make a machine work!” Others appreciated the clear explanations and the sense of achievement gained through hands-on practice.
From “Can I Do It?” to “I Did It”
The workshop gave participants practical experience in electronics and hardware development while building confidence through the mentor’s personal story. They learned that engineering is not simply technical—it is also a way to solve problems and bring creative ideas to life.
TWiST emphasized: “We do not only want girls to experience STEM; we want them to know that STEM is a space where they belong.” Through activities covering science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, TWiST continues challenging gender stereotypes and encouraging young women to explore their potential.
The Final STEM Adventure: Mathematics
Following the Engineering Edition, the series will conclude with the Mathematics Edition, combining mathematics and music to reveal the beauty behind formulas.
TWiST warmly invites more girls to continue this STEM journey, challenge themselves, and take their first steps into the worlds of technology and logical thinking.
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