On 19 March, Margarita Reyes, Communications Officer, Alzheimer Europe took part in the first “Young Women’s Conference” held in Belval, Luxembourg. The event brought together 450 girls and young women aged 12 to 19, offering them a unique opportunity to discover and explore career paths in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic).
The conference featured a varied programme of interactive activities, including keynote speeches, exhibitor booths, career panels, and a “living library.” These formats encouraged participants to engage directly with professionals, ask questions, and gain first-hand insights into different careers.
As part of the living library, Margarita participated as a “living book,” sharing her expertise in science communication under the title “Bringing Alzheimer’s disease into the conversation. Why is it so hard? Let’s chat!”. In this format, participants selected topics of interest from over 30 “book titles” and joined small group discussions with the speakers.
These sessions created an open and informal space where participants could ask questions, exchange ideas, and reflect on their own knowledge and interests. Conversations were widely diverse based on what the participants were curious about, with many wanting to share what they knew about the topic as well as asking what the job involves, what makes it rewarding, and how it relates to their future career goals.
The event was funded by the Luxembourg National Research Fund (FNR) and coordinated by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).
Event website: https://www.ywc.lu/home
