New Women's Café at the Faculty of Engineering
The Women's Café is a recently launched initiative at the Gaarden campus of the Faculty of Engineering that aims to create a welcoming space for female researchers, students, and staff to meet, connect, and exchange experiences across disciplines and career stages. Two members of our CRC, Linda Nolte and Lucie Bangert, are part of the organizing team. In the following interview, they share what inspired the idea, how the Café works in practice, and what they hope it will achieve in the long term.
Q: What motivated you to start the monthly Women's Café?
Lucie: The main motivation was the observation that women are still significantly underrepresented in the engineering degree programs and research groups at Kiel University. This often leads to limited opportunities for informal exchange and networking. We wanted to create a space where women can meet in a relaxed setting and build new connections. Another important aspect was visibility. Especially for younger students, it can be motivating to meet female PhD students and researchers and talk openly about academic paths, challenges, and career options.
Linda: My main motivation is, that gender should not influence careers! Nevertheless, there is a significant gender gap in STEM fields, and most female students are in the minority. That is why we want to create a space where FLINTA*s can exchange ideas, empower and motivate each other to continue their exciting careers in this field.
Q: Was there a specific gap or need within the Faculty of Engineering that you wanted to address?
Linda: There was no regular format specifically to connect women and other FLINTA*s. The computer science department at the main campus has already organised a women's café, so the idea is to offer a similar format at our campus as well.
Q: Were there any concrete suggestions from participants on how the Women's Café could be further developed?
Lucie: Some students expressed the wish for more structured, topic-specific meetings in addition to the open café format. Typical topics mentioned were career perspectives after graduation, how to find a job in academia or industry, and practical advice on studying engineering, such as time management, exam preparation, or dealing with challenging phases during the degree. We are thinking about implementing these kind of meetings from time to time.
Q: What role do female PhD students and researchers play in these thematic sessions?
Lucie: They play a central role. The students specifically asked for practical insights from women who have already completed their studies and are now working in research or industry. Sharing personal experiences, including non-linear career paths or challenges, can provide realistic perspectives and reduce uncertainty about future steps.
Q: For those who are interested in joining: When and where does the Women's Café take place, is registration required, and where can participants find up-to-date information?
Linda: We meet every first Wednesday of the month from 14:00 to 15:00 in the mensa (Dockside). No registration is required. It is open to all women and other FLINTA* persons who are studying or working at the Faculty, you can simply come! If you want to have more information and stay informed about the date, when the next Women's Café will take place, you can write us an e-mail to:
