On Thursday, November 9th, the University of Twente's campus, hosted the "120 Years of Female Engineers" symposium, dedicated to celebrating the impact of female engineers on society.
Organized in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Marina van Damme Scholarship, the event was an inspiring journey through the past, present, and future of female engineers. Chaired by Rosanne Hertzberger, the symposium explored the early 20th century when the first female engineers in the Netherlands emerged and reflected on the influence of the Marina van Damme Scholarship on the lives and careers of female engineers.
The event provided a platform for discussions on the future of female engineers. Commencing with a special ceremony around the Marina van Damme Orchard, where three apple trees were planted in honor of notable female engineers, the afternoon featured presentations by past scholarship recipients, including geomatics engineer Moreblessings Shoko (ITC'2010) and maritime film company owner and UT alumnus Klaudie Bartelink (EST'89). The day concluded with a panel discussion on the role of female engineers in contemporary societal transitions. The symposium took place at the Amphitheater, Vrijhof building, on the University of Twente campus in Enschede from 10:00 am to 5:45 pm.
The Marina van Damme Scholarship, founded by Marina van Damme in 2003, is annually awarded to promising alumni of the University of Twente, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and Wageningen University & Research. This €9,000 scholarship provides female graduates with the opportunity to elevate their careers, following in the footsteps of Marina van Damme. For more information about the scholarship, the symposium, and the speakers, please visit www.marinavandammenetwerk.nl.
