We are thrilled to share that we had an amazing experience attending SWE23, the World’s Largest Conference for Women in Engineering, which took place in the city of Los Angeles with more than 10,000 attendees!

This year’s theme was “Live Without Limits” which inspired us as we connected with so many inspiring women in STEM fields, all made possible through the support of the Female Student Travel Award. Our travel was funded by the collaborative research centers CROSSING, MAKI, the Research Training Group Privacy & Trust, and the LOEWE center emergenCITY.

At the conference, we had the chance to listen to inspiring speeches from keynote speakers such as Kate Maxwell and Joannie Fu, sharing their personal stories and offering glimpses into the resilience and determination that fueled their remarkable career paths and personal growth.

The workshops and panel discussions were undoubtedly a highlight, addressing key themes such as taking risks, making a positive impact, and using your voice to craft the career and life you want. We also immersed ourselves in a spectrum of technical talks, exploring cutting-edge topics such as FemTech, the cultivation of an ethical data culture, and the intricacies of NASA’s Space Launch System.

The conference’s career fair provided a wonderful opportunity to network and connect with professionals from different backgrounds and gain insights into the work, expectations, and opportunities in different industries.

A standout moment was the special networking session dedicated to the global SWE community, where we met passionate individuals from outside the US, and found out about the SWE communities that exist all over the globe.

After the intellectually stimulating days at the conference, we got the chance to explore the city of LA, from the iconic Hollywood sign to the sun-soaked beaches of California.

We are grateful to have attended the conference and to have been in the presence of so many accomplished and ambitious women. SWE23 was a remarkable experience, and it has left us even more motivated to contribute to a tech world that embraces diversity and empowers everyone to live without limits.

We want to thank TU Darmstadt for this experience and for providing us with the chance to be part of SWE23!

Warm regards,

Elisabeth, Eya, Luise, Manu, Marleen, Sophia & Sucheta