SWOPT at Girl’s Day 2026

As part of Girls’ Day 2026, an initiative aimed at promoting early engagement of girls with science and technology, school classes were welcomed to research environments at Helmholtz Munich, including activities linked to the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging. Girls’ Day is designed to encourage interest in fields in which women remain underrepresented, particularly science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

During the visit, the laboratory technicians explained core concepts of biomedical imaging, gaining insight into how modern imaging technologies contribute to the investigation of biological processes and disease mechanisms. Through demonstrations and guided explanations, the girls learned how researchers acquire, visualise, and interpret imaging data.

The programme also offered opportunities for exchange with scientists, allowing the students to ask questions about their career path, research environment, and the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical research. The visit highlighted how expertise from biology, medicine, engineering, and data science is brought together within imaging‑focused research initiatives such as MunichImaging.

At the end of the day, the participants received a small take‑home gift: a paperblock including references to EU‑funded research projects such as SWOPT and the institute logo. These materials were intended to illustrate the international and collaborative framework in which current bioengineering research is conducted.

Outreach activities like Girls’ Day contribute to ongoing efforts at Helmholtz Munich and within MunichImaging (SWOPT coordinator) to increase awareness of scientific careers, promote equal opportunities, and encourage a diverse future generation of researchers.