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in STEM subjects than those with none (41% vs 26%).
Stereotypes and societal expectations are still determining
factors when choosing higher education. The distribution
of women and men across academic disciplines seems to be
affected by perceptions of intellectual brilliance. In [19] it
was shown that the gendered notions of brilliance are acquired
as early as 6 and have an immediate effect on children’s
interests. These stereotypes discourage women’s pursuit of
tech career. [11] found that girls’ interest and enjoyment in
tech wanes in high school.

2.2 Creation of the Hedy Lamarr Chair
Figure 1 – Logo for the Hedy Lamarr Chair for Women
Lecturers at the University of Malaga recognized the and Technology at the Universidad de Málaga (left), for the
significant gender imbalance in engineering areas, with very participant entities at UMA (center) and companies (right)
few women enrolling in these studies. Existing programs to
“Cátedra Mujer y Tecnología Hedy Lamarr,” was established
attract girls to technology as those described in subsection 1.1
to conduct a variety of activities designed to attract girls to
have a weak presence in Malaga, with most Spanish initiatives
technology. Created with the support of seven companies
concentrated in Madrid and Barcelona. Most students at
(Accenture, Avanade, DEKRA, Ericsson, Keysight, Google,
UMA come from the surrounding areas, which highlights
and MetroMalaga) and 25 involved university teachers in
the importance of focusing local outreach efforts. By
Telecommunications, Industrial Engineering and Computer
engaging with the local community, UMA has the potential
Science, the program aimed to create a significant impact.
to significantly increase female student enrollment.
Now, the Cátedra has grown to include 11 companies (with
A variety of initiatives were locally created to attract more
AirZone, NTT Data, Premo, and TDK joining) and more
girls to STEM. One of our earliest programs, “ComoTu,” was
than 40 university teachers, including now also Chemical
launched in 2017. It consisted in talks and hands-on activities
Engineering. By working directly with schools at Malaga
in schools for all students. The program inspires young girls
area and offering engaging, hands-on experiences, the Hedy
by showcasing female role models across the entire STEM
Lamarr Chair aims to inspire a new generation of women
spectrum.
to pursue careers in STEM at the University of Malaga,
Building on this effort, UMA introduced in 2019 the
addressing both the educational gap and the industry demand
“Campamentos Tecnológicos para Chicas,” a two-week
for female talent. The initiative emphasizes a localized
summer program exclusively for girls offering immersive
approach, specifically targeting the Málaga area to attract
experiences in three key areas: computer science (pioneering
female students to UMA. Fig. 1 displays the logos for
in 2018), telecommunications, and industrial engineering.
the Chair and the participating entities, as typically used
These camps provided an opportunity for girls to engage
in public presentations. The text is in Spanish: “Cátedra”
directly with technology in a supportive and encouraging
(Chair), “chicas” (girls), “Mujer” (woman), and “Tecnología”
environment, fostering their interest and skills in these fields.
(technology), while Lamarr is the family name for Hedy
Also private initiatives were launched, such as the program
Lamarr.
on “Science and Technology for Women” by Malaga Tech
Park, which aimed to promote scientific and technological
3. HEDY LAMARR CHAIR OVERVIEW
vocations in female students. Many industries have also their
own programs, mainly addressed to their employees’ children 3.1 Activity design
but also reaching external girls. These efforts collectively
strive to reduce the gender gap in these fields by fostering an Activities at the programs described in subsection 1.1 are
encouraging and motivating educational atmosphere. good starting points to understand in which forms girls can be
Moreover, some professional associations, such as that influenced. Specifically, after 25 years of work with girls, the
of telecommunication technical engineers, also launched SciGirls program has developed a set of common strategies
programs for girls. In fact, engineering societies and colleges for girl engagement. Basically, girls thrive in collaborative
have a significant role to play in fostering an inclusive environments and are motivated by hands-on, open-ended
environment. By creating a supportive community and investigations and the freedom to apply their creativity. Their
advocating for systemic changes, these organizations can help performance improve with specific, positive feedback on
to remove barriers and create a more welcoming environment effort and strategies, while critical thinking and relationships
for women in engineering. with role models further boost their confidence and trust in
Despite these initiatives, local companies continued to their abilities.
express a demand for more female engineers, but the number For the analysis of this and other program tips as well as
of women in those studies remained low. In response, UMA available information on girls opinion, it can be understood
decided to consolidate and expand their efforts by launching that one of the most impacting strategies involves outreach
a comprehensive program. This initiative, known as the programs where female engineers visit schools. For instance,

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