As part of the nationwide Girls’Day on April 23, 2026, the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) invited schoolgirls to gain insights into the daily work of our researchers and get hands-on experience in practical projects. Held annually since 2001, this event aims to foster girls’ interest in career fields where women have historically been underrepresented, like the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and handcraft.
Throughout the event, the about 80 female students were able to learn more about the work in the three research divisions of Fraunhofer HHI through nine different workshops.
Communication & Networks Research Area
A special highlight was the Wireless World of the Wireless Communication and Networks Department. Here, the students controlled robotic dogs via mobile networks through an obstacle course, thereby learning the basics of modern wireless technology. In the Mega World of the Photonic Networks and Systems Department, the focus was on how light signals enable encrypted data transmission, and students were invited to build their own LiFi receiver to decode these encrypted messages.
AI & Video Research Area
In the Video World of the Video Communication and Applications Department, the students learned more about future video formats and had the opportunity to speak with an avatar. The Vision and Imaging Technologies Department organized three workshops: In the Visual World, participants tested virtual reality applications using VR headsets, while the Interactive World explored digital creativity supported by intelligence (AI), e.g. in the form of natural language processing by smart systems. The Audio World focused on the creation of sound and invited the students to build their own audio circuit. Finally, in the AI World of the AI Department, the girls gained a concise insight into how AI works, its fields of application, as well as its opportunities and limitations, by training their own models and testing tools.
Photonic Components & Systems Research Area
Two additional workshops introduced the participants to photonics: In the Giga World, the Hybrid Integration and Sensing Department used a terahertz laser to provide insights into the application of terahertz radiation, which can be used to visualize hidden structures, for example by scanning through materials. In the Micro World, participants used objects they designed themselves to learn about the manufacturing process of tiny optical chips, which are used in fields such as medicine and telecommunications.
The workshops were rounded off with a group lunch, where the girls had the opportunity to learn more about the latest technologies at Fraunhofer HHI using demonstrations. They were also able to ask selected scientists questions about their work and research and learn about additional career fields, such as science communication.