A New Approach To Encourage The Next Generation Of Female Engineers In Spain: A Young And Fresh Podcast To Attract More Girls To The Field: “Clau, Quiero Ser Ingeniera”

The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields is a complex issue with multiple factors that remain unclear. At Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), we have dedicated years to devising strategies aimed at attracting more girls to this domain. As the coordinating institution of the EELISA alliance, where we endeavor to define the European engineer, we confront gender inequality as one of the foremost challenges. To address this need, a 4th year student at UPM conceived an initiative: a podcast with three primary objectives. Firstly, it aims to highlight the accomplishments of female engineers who can serve as role models for girls. Secondly, it seeks to spark the interest of girls in pursuing STEM careers. Lastly, it aims to increase the visibility of current female engineering students. The student discusses engineering in a captivating manner, revealing the fascinating world of STEM. This informal conversation between two women resonates with girls, allowing them to envision themselves undertaking similar paths in the future. The content is readily accessible through popular social networks and platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify, which are frequented by young people daily. This ongoing project has the potential to significantly contribute to the rise in the number of girls applying to study engineering in Spain.