To help close the digital gender gap in Europe, Arrow Electronics partnered with Girls Go Circular's Women and Girls in STEM Forum to fund a green robot challenge. The event, held in Brussels, attracted 270 young school-aged women from across Europe, with a total of 90 teams from 19 countries.
A team from Malta won the competition to develop an eco-friendly robot that removes carbon dioxide from the air through the process of enhanced weathering, an effective way to reduce greenhouse gases to mitigate the impact of climate change. Selected by a combined public and jury vote, the winning team earned an entry to the FIRST Tech Challenge Benelux Scrimmage at the end of February.
“We believe these learning opportunities play a critical role in fostering the presence of female STEM leaders in the communities we serve,” said Christina Frantz, director of corporate affairs at Arrow. "Girls Go Circular is on the front lines of this effort, and we are proud to support the program's work."
Arrow helped connect GirlsGoCircular with FIRST Robotics, an Arrow STEM partner, which hosts international engineering events that task teams with building and programming industrial-sized robots. Alumni of FIRST programs gain access to exclusive scholarships, internships and other opportunities that create connections and open pathways to a wide variety of careers.
The Women and Girls in STEM Forum brought together more than 1.200 policymakers, industry leaders, students and educators to advocate for gender equality in STEM and information and communication technologies (ICT).
Arrow invests in programs around the world that expand young women's access to STEM education, with an emphasis on instilling confidence and leadership skills. Supported by the European Commission and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Girls Go Circular equipped almost 40.000 girls aged 14-19 across Europe with digital and business skills. The initiative aims to reach thousands more girls, encouraging them to opt for STEM and ICT studies and careers..
