Study orientation in the STEM field inspires participants

The visit began on May 30, 2024 directly in the halls of the chesco research factory with a presentation of the various production areas. A presentation on the Center for Hybrid Electric Systems Cottbus (chesco) and structural change in Lusatia rounded off the first part of the program. The topics of studies and career paths were the focus of an intensive and exciting discussion with Claudia Lehmann, QM Manager at chesco, and Beatrice Rich, Transfer Coordinator.

After lunch in the canteen, a visit to the DLR_School_Lab at the BTU main campus was on the agenda. Here, the visitors got hands-on with the ISS mission and drop tower experiments. The focus was on getting to know the living conditions on a space station on the one hand and on generating the phenomenon of weightlessness on the other, which particularly inspired many participants in the ProTechnicale orientation program.

Valerie Dau explained: "My highlight during my visit to the university in Cottbus was first discussing the topic of weightlessness in theory and then experiencing the phenomenon in practice. The day here at the BTU totally reinforced my desire to go into the aerospace sector later on. My curiosity to do research in this field and learn more about it has been aroused."

In the Unex student laboratory of the Centre for Student Acquisition and Study Preparation - College, physical phenomena shaped a program specially tailored to the participants. Laboratory manager Dr. Olaf Gutschker was delighted with the young women's enormous interest in technology. They explored his laboratory with great curiosity and contributed their specialist knowledge to the discussion.
"It was simply fun to be able to lead such an intensive program for young female high school graduates, which went far beyond the normal school subject matter," summed up Dr. Olaf Gutschker. Finally, despite the late hour, the participants listened with great interest to his exciting explanations during a guided tour of Cottbus.

Background
ProTechnicale is an eleven-month study orientation year that offers talented young women with A-levels the opportunity to try out their skills through internships abroad and in Germany, preparatory phases at universities and coaching in the area of personal development. In the process, they gain valuable experience in the STEM field. The program is based at the Center for Applied Aeronautical Research (ZAL) in Hamburg, one of the most modern research centers for civil aviation in the world.