The day kicked off with a discussion on the importance of increasing female representation in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Pinar Yasar Orten, NCIA Head of SATCOM Technologies, delivered an insightful presentation on satellite communications, explaining how this technology has evolved and its critical role in supporting NATO’s connectivity, operations, and decision-making. Afterwards, participants engaged in a hands-on workshop, where they had the opportunity to build their own satellite model using everyday materials. The girls tested their designs by gradually adding weight to assess the structural integrity of their satellites, reinforcing key engineering principles in an interactive way.
Later outside, Pinar introduced the girls to a Low Earth Orbit Satellite Constellation High-Performance Ground Terminal, providing a real demonstration of satellite connectivity. This prime example of dual-use technology, showed the young audience how everyday devices connect to satellites to access the global internet, and their crucial role in enabling secure communications in remote and high-performance environments. The girls had the opportunity to connect their own devices to the satellite, experiencing first-hand the power and relevance of SATCOM technology.
“It was inspiring to see how quickly the girls engaged with the activity, showing enthusiasm and curiosity,” observed Pinar after the event. “Today, we not only showed but also experienced first-hand that science is much more than textbooks; it’s about applying knowledge to solve real-world problems and make a tangible impact.”
"I really liked when we went outside and connected our devices to the satellite. All the girls in the group linked our devices to just one satellite. I didn't think we could do it, but we did! It was so fun and interesting to see how it all worked," said Agustina, 12, Croatia.
The event, organized by NCIA’s Diversity and Wellbeing team, to celebrate International Women’s Day, aimed to inspire more young girls to pursue a technology and science related career.
The 8th of March is a day earmarked to recognize success and achievements of women. It also provides an opportunity to raise awareness about gender discrimination that still prevails and serves as a powerful reminder to bridge this gap.