Beijing Women's Federation

The Beijing Action "Empowering Girls with Science and Technology" program has been held in the capital for four years running to support the city in the building of an international sci-tech innovation center and help girls raise their sci-tech literacy. With the theme "Girls' AI Future", this year's goal of the program is to assist girls in learning  about the latest developments in artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies through thematic camps and sci-tech innovation activities, as well as inviting women sci-tech workers to give lectures on campuses. The first thematic camp of 2024 was held by Beijing Women's Federation (BWF) and the Beijing Association for Science and Technology, and undertaken by Beijing Women's International Center and Beijing Science Center (BSC) in the capital from July 24 to 29. During the camp, student representatives from Hongying Primary School, in Haidian District, and representatives of beneficiaries of a public welfare project gained an understanding of the AI sector, attended science popularization courses and practice activities, and toured laboratories in major universities. The activities ignited the participants' interest in sci-tech and gave them confidence that they have something to offer in the field of scientific and technological exploration.

Get to Know AI

At the thematic camp's opening ceremony, attendees watched videos recorded by women officials from Tanzania, Sierra Leone and other Asian and African countries, who were in China to attend a special training session held by the Chinese Government. The foreign officials spoke about the importance of AI, the difficulties and challenges faced by their own countries in the application of AI, and asked the Chinese girls in attendance to study STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) courses and grasp all the opportunities available in learning about AI and other frontier technologies. Women technological workers from research institutes, universities and enterprises gave an introduction to their research and personal experiences and encouraged the teenage attendees to break down gender stereotypes, devote themselves to sci-tech innovation and make a difference to the world through the application of technology.

Those in attendance got a basic understanding of AI, its fundamental theories and application scenarios through experiencing facial recognition, automatic driving and human-machine interactive functions. With the encouragement of teachers, they talked about common AI application scenarios such as smart loudspeakers and mobile-phone payments in daily life.

What kinds of major transformations will AI bring to the world? Attendees of the camp brought their curiosity with them to Peking University's Graduate School of Education, which is committed to the research of human learning. While there, the girls got a firsthand experience of human-machine interactive facilities, gained an understanding of its importance in the research of the human brain, marveled at the rapid developments in science and technology, and showed eagerness to gain knowledge for the future.

Simulated Automatic Driving

During the camp, participants made their own smart toy cars and gained a deeper understanding of AI. They collaborated in the making and operation of self-developed robotic vehicles, which involved the adjustment of speed, the rotation of mechanical arms and the arrangement of sensor parameters.

The week-long camp provided the girls with a valuable opportunity to attend courses, understand the application of AI in both industrial production and daily life, and allowed them to produce smart devices. According to them, the event has helped them realize that scientific research not only involves experimental operation and academic learning but also courage and determination in the exploration of the unknown world. They also learned about latest sci-tech research results as well as the importance of teamwork.

The thematic camp focused on AI, incorporated scientific knowledge into social practices, raised the participants' scientific literacy, expanded their horizons, enhanced personal confidence in the exploration of science and technology, and strengthened their capacity building in resolving specific problems.

Organizers also invited representatives of beneficiaries of the public welfare project "Bringing Warmth to Families with Love" to attend the thematic camp, and held AI-related interactive activities for them. They also arranged for them to take part in self-driving and scientific courses and visit AI-related exhibitions.

The thematic camp received support from Beijing Children and Teenagers' Innovation Academy, Beijing Women's Association for Science and Technology, the Capital Women Professors Association, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunication and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Beijing Women in Engineering.

The 2024 Beijing Action "Empowering Girls with Science and Technology" program will continue with the theme "Girls' AI Future", which will include camps on enhancing young women's sci-tech literacy, invite sci-tech workers to give lectures on campuses, exhibit sci-tech innovation practices, help girls learn about AI and other frontier technologies, and stimulate their eagerness for academic learning and scientific research.