Why the Student Project House is looking for more women
More female students in the Student Project House - that's what Rafael von Sury and Serena Stefanoni want to achieve. In the interview they talk about why this is important to them and introduce women in video portraits who already make use of the SPH.
Rows of 3D printers, numerous workshop spaces, open meeting rooms and modern workstations: The Student Project House (SPH) on Clausiusstrasse is a place where students can try things out, develop ideas, and put what they have learned into practice. But so far, mainly male students use the Makerspace at the SPH, only 21 percent are female students.
This is not only regrettable, but it also means a lot of untapped potential, according to Rafael von Sury and Serena Stefanoni. Von Sury is Marketeer and Content Producer at SPH, while Stefanoni is Senior Makerspace Manager and thus part of the student-run Makerspace, the workshop management. "In a first step, we want to have at least as good a gender ratio as ETH as a whole!" And that means a one-third share of women. Both are therefore looking for new ways to make more female students aware of what SPH has to offer. Rafael von Sury's focus is on strategy. He has set the goal of addressing all students equally – in words, pictures and with compelling offers. Stefanoni leads courses in the Makerspace and supports students in project development. Recently, the pair launched a campaign in which they specifically portray projects by women in the Student Project House.
In this interview, Stefanoni and von Sury talk about the campaign and their plans for the SPH.
The Student Project House and its Makerspace is open to everyone - but is mainly used by male students. Why?
Serena Stefanoni: We find ourselves at the intersection of two glass ceilings: STEM disciplines and entrepreneurship. Women are underrepresented in both fields. In addition, the Makerspace is used primarily by students from D-MAVT, D-INFK and D-ITET – three study programs that all have more male than female students.
Rafael von Sury: A user survey also revealed that female students are more reserved when it comes to implementing their ideas.
Stefanoni: Girls are raised to operate within predetermined structures. Boys are more socialized to think that it's okay or even desirable to just go for it. Of course, this doesn't apply to everyone equally. But there seems to be a tendency for this behavior, not only in childhood but also throughout early adulthood.
Why should women come here and make use of what the Makerspace has to offer?
von Sury: For the same reason as everyone else. The Makerspace is a place where you can be creative, develop and implement ideas.
Stefanoni: Working in the Makerspace gives you a good balance to the daily study routine. There's no pressure to achieve a certain result - no set goal, and certainly no exams.
How can women benefit from using the Makerspace?
Stefanoni: Everyone can try things out here and find out what is possible. This is fun and can be very liberating.
von Sury: You can do anything creative at the Makerspace: You can build something small that you don't have the space or infrastructure for at home, all the way to founding a start-up.
Stefanoni: Just give it a try and see where it goes from there.
von Sury: Regardless of the result, at the SPH you can learn valuable skills for the future - be it technical skills, the creative process, or interpersonal skills when working in a team.
How could the Makerspace and male students benefit from more women?
von Sury: Studies proof that diverse teams achieve better results.
Stefanoni: Men and women have different skills that, sometimes only in combination with each other, lead to success. The more different people and perspectives come together, the more each of us can learn.
The Student Project House
What?
The Student Project House (SPH) offers space for thinking and making. Its goal is to give students a pressure-free environment to try things out and develop ideas. Space, workstations, machines, materials, and support from the management team are available. The SPH also offers workshops, organizes events and is constantly developing.
For whom?
Students and doctoral candidates at ETH Zurich
When?
Opening hours vary during the year and are always published for the next four weeks. During the lecture period, the SPH is generally open from 8.00 to 20.00 and the Makerspace is supervised from 16.30 to 19.30.
Where?
SPH ETH Zentrum
FHK D-J Floor
Clausiusstrasse 16
8006 Zurich
SPH ETH Hönggerberg
HPZ F Floor
John-von-Neumann-Weg 9
8093 Zurich