This virtual outreach event has been planned to attract applications of students in the engineering fields with the double aim of:

– increasing gender balance;
– showing different engineer paths at European XFEL.

With an all-female panel of colleagues pursuing engineering careers at the Data and Instrumentation Departments the goal is to show European XFEL as a place where different engineering paths are possible. To make this possible, the organizing committee has been composed of personnel from the Management Board, the legal team, the communication department, the HR department and the group leader of the Controls group at European XFEL.

To increase the outreach and impact of this event, we plan to record the sessions, and make them available on Youtube. Only our staff will be recorded. Through technical means we will ensure that external participants will not be recorded.

European XFEL is a research facility that offers ultrashort X-ray pulses of outstanding spatial coherence and spectral brilliance. In collaboration with users we perform world-class experiments for a broad range of scientific applications. We actively contribute to solving societal challenges by performing first-class basic science experiments, in particular on climate and energy, health, digitalization and environment and sustainability. Through this initiative we attempt to expand our already diverse staff (62 nationalities) by showing how there are different engineering paths that can make a difference on basic sciences. As well, we aim at increasing our gender balance in particular in the engineering and technical sector.