Young Maths Talents Get to Know the World of Work

»I am particularly interested in the connection between math and the real world«

Clara Olivia Ionescu attends the Carl-Friedrich-Gauß-Gymnasium in Frankfurt an der Oder – a MINT Center of Excellence, a mathematical, scientific and technical special school run by the state of Brandenburg. »I transferred from my school in Potsdam to this school because I felt underchallenged in my area of interest »mathematics« there and wanted to learn more. For this reason, I am also taking an online math course at the University of Heidelberg.« For the eleventh-grader, the MINT Center of Excellence not only means that, unlike at her regular school in Brandenburg, she has three STEM subjects, but also that mathematics is a compulsory advanced course and she will graduate from the boarding school after just twelve years. »This also means that we take part in mathematical competitions and many activities related to mathematical problems are promoted. But this was my first full modeling week .«

She modeled in the project on the topic of »Producing nonwovens intelligently«. The project work itself was also her highlight of the week: »I'm particularly interested in the connection between math and the real world. It all seemed very well thought out. In the groups, we had the opportunity to think for ourselves and work out solutions, we were only given food for thought, which we then put into practice as a team.« But Clara also liked the general conditions: »We were very well looked after throughout the week – from breakfast to the cool hoodie to the food in the restaurant. The rooms at Villa Denis were also very nice and impressively large«, emphasizes the 17-year-old. »The introduction right at the beginning with team-building exercises was the best I've experienced so far. Overall, we had a lot of fun and learned a lot. Solving the problem together at the end was really nice.«

Modelling Weeks as Sport and Home Game

Franziska Sistig and Miriam Noglik were both in the project group on the topic of »Mathematical modelling of scratches«. This is Franziska's third modelling week and her second Math Talent School at our institute. »I find it super interesting that different topics are always covered. The last time I was at a mixed Talent School in October 2023 and my group didn't do any programming at all. This time it's a purely female student event and we even had an introduction to programming. Independently of Fraunhofer events, I've also taken part in a modelling week that was all about Artificial Intelligence«, says the 18-year-old about her passion for this type of event. »This week I liked the group dynamic even more than last year, but that was simply down to the people, not necessarily the fact that we were just girls.« Whether she really wants to study maths in Kaiserslautern, the twelfth-grader from Bornheim still doesn't know for sure: »At the moment, I think it will be biology, maybe in Bonn. But maths is definitely an option as a minor subject.« However, the Math Talent School will probably be her last modelling week as a pupil for the time being, as she is due to take her A-levels next year.

This is Miriam's first Math Talent School, but not her first encounter with Fraunhofer in Kaiserslautern, as she attends St. Franziskus Gymnasium in Kaiserslautern. There have already been several points of contact: »My sister also took part in a Talent School and was enthusiastic. I was then explicitly asked by a teacher whether I would like to apply. That made me very happy. I had also already completed a Design Sprint internship at Fraunhofer IESE. So I've even been to the Fraunhofer Centre at the neighbouring institute.« In the eleventh grade of a private girls' high school, the situation with groups of female students was not new to her either: »I particularly enjoyed the teamwork. It started on the first day of the team-building workshop, when we did interactive exercises with a theatre teacher. That really loosened things up. I've already been to a similar week of events at the Mainz Maths Academy, where there were mixed groups. That was also nice, but as a girls‘ camp, the whole thing had a different atmosphere.« It was already important to her in her letter of motivation that she also wanted to take part in order to find out what you can achieve in a team and how computer science and maths complement each other. »I don't know what could have been done better«, she summarizes.

Maths Day as a Optional Addition to the Week

On the Saturday after the Talent School, she will also attend the Maths Day at RPTU with a few of the participants. This is also a home game for her and not the first time: »We've already been to the Maths Day in fifth grade and even came third in a maths rally. This time, I'm taking part in the team competition with exams with a friend and, of course, I'll also be stopping by the Fraunhofer ITWM stand«, says the 17-year-old. She might even go straight on to RPTU after school: »I can very well imagine studying maths, chemistry or medicine. If maths or chemistry, then RPTU is definitely an option.« Maybe then also work for us as a student assistant at the institute at the same time? 

Girls Camp Special as a Great Format

Leni Becker goes to a MINT-EC (STEM) school with boarding facilities in Holzminden, Lower Saxony, and is working on the project group »Fidgeting little particles – from random walk to diffusion«. In her letter of motivation in her application, she describes exactly what motivates her: »We have small classes, close supervision and, of course, offers in the field of science that help you to look beyond the curriculum, but these are mainly focussed outside the mathematical area. I think my participation in the Girls STEM Camp could give me this view beyond the maths curriculum.« And her expectations were fulfilled, her highlight was the project itself, including programming, which surprised her: »It was really exciting, also because I didn't know beforehand whether I could do it well at all. I already had inhibitions about programming, but this week really took them away. I also now know better what you can do with maths in the professional world«, reports the 18-year-old enthusiastically. »Overall, I really enjoyed it. You really noticed how much effort everyone put in, they were all sympathetic, motivated and friendly. Everything around it was great too, from the games in between to the rally and the leisure activities.«

In her letter of motivation, she also explicitly expressed her excitement about the Girls' Camp Special and emphasised euphorically: »In scientific fields, women are often not always recognised or are often underestimated, outside of which you have to fight a lot against prejudices, especially as a younger woman. Due to outdated stereotypes, many women never get the chance to realise their interest and talent in STEM fields or don't dare to explore these areas. A dream of mine and of many women in our world would come true if women no longer had to face such hurdles. I believe my participation in the Girl Camp and further participation in the STEM field helps other women and shows the world what we can do.« Even after the week, she is certain that the relaxed atmosphere in a close circle of schoolgirls gives her the chance to develop without prejudice.

However, the twelfth-grader is not yet sure whether she sees herself as a mathematician in Kaiserslautern after her A-levels: »I'm still unsure exactly what I want to study. But this week has given me more certainty about studying something with maths. I was also really impressed by RPTU because, just like at boarding school, everything seemed very familiar and sheltered. The student-to-staff ratio is very good for a rather small university. I thought the atmosphere on the campus tour was great and I already knew that the university is often at the top of the rankings for STEM subjects.«

We are excited to see which of the students we will see again after their A-levels or after their studies and wish them all every success in their STEM careers!