IGEday Leads the Way

Opening doors to the next generation of engineers

Warmth, curiosity, and the courage to question. During IGEday at Chalmers Industriteknik, young girls are introduced to the engineering profession – and get to discover how their ideas can shape the technology of tomorrow.

There is a quiet buzz in the foyer. It’s a Friday morning, spring is in the air – but it’s not just any Friday. Chalmers Industriteknik is hosting 20 seventh-grade girls. Once everyone has found their name badges, it’s time for breakfast – juice, sandwiches, and a sense of excited anticipation.

– IGEday is about sparking curiosity for engineering and showing how research and knowledge can translate into real-world solutions – something we work with every day, says Sara Wagiström, HR Business Partner at Chalmers Industriteknik.

It’s the fourth year that Chalmers Industriteknik is hosting the event. This year, the 25 available spots were fully booked in just over a day. As soon as the group has taken off their jackets, one of the teachers wonders why this isn’t done more often.

The purpose of IGEday – Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day – is to spark interest in technology among young girls and non-binary individuals and encourage more of them to pursue engineering careers. The goal is for equal numbers of women and men to graduate as engineers by 2030.

“When curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving lead the way, diverse perspectives come naturally.”

Sara Wagiström

Today, only around 30 percent of Sweden’s practicing engineers are women. At the same time, figures from Chalmers Industriteknik show that this can change. Here, just over 40 percent of the engineers are women.
– When curiosity, collaboration, and problem-solving lead the way, diverse perspectives come naturally. It also makes more people feel welcome, says Sara Wagiström.

Different paths to the same world

After breakfast, we gather in the studio for an introduction to the engineering profession. The participants take their seats at the tables, some curiously peeking into their goodie bags.
– We need more people like you. The laws of physics are the same all over the world, so with an engineering degree, you can work almost anywhere, says Sofia Öiseth, Group Manager and graphene expert.

“You’re allowed to change your mind and switch paths if something doesn’t feel right.”

Jonna Hynynen

The path there doesn’t necessarily have to be straight. Jonna Hynynen, a materials expert focusing on chemistry and energy, tried several different paths – media studies, a job at McDonald’s, a long trip through Asia, and a career as a diving instructor in Australia – before ending up in the world of chemistry, almost by chance.
– During a technical foundation year, a teacher made me realize how much I enjoyed chemistry. It’s important to remember that you’re allowed to change your mind and switch paths if something doesn’t feel right, says Jonna Hynynen.

Where even the smallest particle matters

After an introduction to quantum technology and semiconductors, it’s time to visit the lab. Inside Chalmers’ cleanroom, the lighting has a yellow-orange hue. Wearing lab coats, nitrile gloves and cleanroom hoods, the students enter through an airlock.

The equipment isn’t there to protect them – it’s to protect the environment from human particles, dust and contamination.
– Researchers here work with extremely small things like sensors and graphene. It’s very sensitive technology, explains Johanna Udén, PhD student in Quantum Device Physics, Microtechnology and Nanoscience at Chalmers.

She points to a fully suited researcher on the other side of the glass wall and begins to tell the story of the research duo who, nearly twenty years ago, were awarded the Nobel Prize – thanks to curiosity, a pencil and ordinary adhesive tape.
– They discovered graphene, a material with unique properties. It’s incredibly thin, stronger than steel and conducts electricity – and it can be used in many different applications.

New solutions to everyday challenges

In the innovation workshop, group work is in full swing. The participants get to create their own graphene, identify a problem from their everyday lives and develop a solution using the material.

When it’s time to present, the room fills with ideas – from underwater headphones to solutions for safer roads and smart textiles.
– We think graphene threads aren’t just limited to clothing – they could also be used in other types of textiles, like furniture or even cat toys, one participant explains.

The engineers are impressed by the creativity.
– I would never have come up with anything like that at their age, says Jonna.

As the day comes to a close, many agree on the highlight – the lab visit.
– What surprised me was that engineers don’t just work with programming, one participant says.
– And that you can work with so many different things, adds another.

IGEday is just one day a year. But the curiosity it sparks can be the beginning of something that lasts a lifetime. At Chalmers Industriteknik, engineering is not only about innovation – it’s about continuing to open doors, every day.

Women in engineering in Sweden
Around 29–30 percent of Sweden’s working engineers are women, according to the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers. However, the variation between fields is significant, ranging from 7 to 69 percent. Among those aged 20–29, 37 percent are women, compared to 20 percent among those over 60.

How Chalmers Industriteknik works with gender equality
Chalmers Industriteknik applies competence-based recruitment and fosters an inclusive work environment where everyone is heard. Clear processes ensure equal rights and opportunities throughout the entire employee journey.
– But a large part of the work is ongoing dialogue – gender equality is never something you “finish”, says Sara Wagiström.

Teachers’ reflections on IGEday
– I’m really glad we did this together. It was a wonderful and educational day outside the classroom, says Izabelle Dyrvold, home economics teacher.
– I agree – it’s great for students to gain perspective on what lies ahead in education and what they can aim for, says Torbjörn Fagerberg, teacher in technology and science.

What is IGEday?
IGEday is an initiative by Womengineer aimed at increasing the number of women in technical education and professions. During IGEday, girls and non-binary individuals aged 13–19 get to experience what it’s like to be an engineer at a workplace in Sweden. Any company with at least one female engineer can participate. This year, around 100 Swedish companies took part. Registration for IGEday 2027 opens in April.