At the research department Marine Perception in Oldenburg, the participating girls gain an insight into how artificial intelligence can contribute to environmental and climate protection. They learn how AI solutions are used to better understand environmental and sustainability issues – for example, by analysing sensor data from marine and environmental research. As well as exciting examples from everyday research, the participants also learn the basics of programming with sensor technology.
In Osnabrück, the girls gain a comprehensive insight into the wide-ranging applications of AI and robotics. They spend the morning in the research department Smart Enterprise Engineering, learning about the day-to-day work of the researchers. In short mini-interviews, they learn about the scientists’ career paths and explore what makes working in research so special. Then they do some programming on the project website YouCodeGirls.de. The pupils spend the afternoon in the research department Cooperative and Autonomous Systems. There, they gain insights into the world of robotics and learn how intelligent and autonomous systems are developed and used in everyday life. They get to know the mobile robots MobiPick, TIAGo and ChargePal, and are allowed to assign tasks to the latter via a programming interface and try out automatic route planning.
The research department Smart Data & Knowledge Services in Kaiserslautern is focusing on the theme ‘Making quality of life visible – my cityscape of the future’. Following an introduction to the work of the DFKI, the girls will try out a real robotic arm and learn in a playful way how artificial intelligence learns and is used. In the creative workshop that follows, they will develop their own ideas for liveable, sustainable cities and work together to consider how quality of life can be measured, analysed or visualised – for example, using data analysis or map visualisations and with the help of AI.
The Robotics Innovation Center in Bremen is once again running an event for girls and boys. Future Day kicks off with a guided tour of the laboratories and test facilities. The children then take part in a workshop where they learn how to programme using Arduino. They create their own small applications and experience first-hand how code is turned into working technology. The event provides a hands-on introduction to the basics of robotics and sparks an interest in technical careers.
The DFKI’s events have been very well received. The venues are full, the workshops are lively and attendance is high. With plenty of curiosity, questions and enthusiasm, participants are seizing the opportunity to experience research first-hand, take their first steps into the world of artificial intelligence and technology, and learn about the day-to-day work of researchers.
