With the monthly podcast “Gleichstellung@etit” (“Equality@etit”), the team from the department's Equal Opportunities Officer is tackling the problem that women are traditionally underrepresented in the field of electrical engineering. The team – Luisa Riik, Maria Rizou, Laura D'Angelo, Claudia Klein and Sarah Schleidt – wants to give visibility to female role models in electrical engineering and at the same time address feminist and queer issues in the department. “In short: How can we make a contribution to TU Darmstadt's diversity strategy?” says the project outline. Because: “Gender diversity and increasing the proportion of women can only be enriching and beneficial for the culture and research at the department, but also for electrical engineering research and education as well as electrical engineering in Germany as a whole.”

“I am delighted that our diversity strategy motivates employees to implement such innovative projects,” says Professor Heribert Warzecha, TU Vice President for Studies, Teaching and Diversity. “I hope that the podcast can contribute to attracting more women to study at the etit faculty and initiate exciting discussions in the listed subject areas.”

The award winners capitalise on the popularity of the podcast medium among young people. The episodes are intended to present gender equality topics in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology in an up-to-date, fresh and easily accessible format. “A podcast brings us into contact and into dialogue – we can approach key players, provide impetus, promote networking and advertise our offers and events.” The equal opportunities team is responsible for the conception, recording, editing and publication of the podcasts. The episodes have been available on popular podcatchers and podcast platforms since April.

The concept can also be easily transferred to other departments. The technical equipment can easily be lent to other equal opportunities teams at TU Darmstadt, and several departments can also co-operate in the process

With the fresh and accessible podcast format, the team impressed the jury, who praised the convincing and innovative concept idea and the authentic presentation as well as the fact that the “podcast” idea can also be transferred to other departments. The jury members also recognised that the team's topics went beyond attracting women to the department and included holistic aspects of cultural change, awareness and gender diversity.

The team would like to use the prize money to establish the podcast in the long term and in high quality. The money will be used, for example, for technical equipment, staff assistants and training or to finance project-related travel and research.