Three pioneers for MINT: Zonta STEM Award honors young women!

Three pioneers for MINT: Zonta STEM Award honors young women!

In a ceremonial setting on July 1, 2025, three remarkable young women were awarded the Zonta STEM Award 2025: Sahar Danaei Nejad, Madelaine Bareiß and Sarah Pappert. This prize, awarded by the Zonta Club Bad Nauheim-Friedberg, not only recognizes the scientific ambition in MINT subjects (mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology), but also the social commitment of the prize winners. The award ceremony will be announced by the Wetterauer newspaper reports, which also highlights that Sahar Danaei Nejad was awarded first prize and was honored in the presence of her mother, who came especially from Iran.

Sahar Danaei Nejad has already achieved remarkable achievements: After fleeing Iran in 2018, she learned German within a year and has been volunteering as an interpreter ever since. The young women, all of whom are on the way to a master's degree or doctorate, impressively show how important equal opportunities are in the MINT subjects. Madelaine Bareiß, who is interested in applied physics and especially laser technology, is active at Girlsday and is committed to promoting young talent.

Challenges in MINT careers

The awards are a step in the right direction because women are often underrepresented in technology fields. According to the STEM facts Only 25 percent of women are willing to study engineering, while in computer science this number is even lower. However, the shortage of skilled workers in business and science makes it urgently necessary to increase the proportion of women in these areas.

Sarah Pappert researches technologies for space applications at the Justus Liebig University in Gießen and has already received a doctoral position at the Max Planck Institute. These recognitions show how important it is to make women in STEM professions visible and celebrate their achievements. Professor Dr. In this context, Matthias Willems, President of the Central Hesse University of Technology, emphasizes the need to promote women in MINT subjects.

A step into the future

Zonta International, which is responsible for introducing the 'Zonta Women in STEM Award' in 2024, has set itself the goal of offering young women solid support in the STEM field. Especially in a world that is becoming increasingly digital, it is important to create equal opportunities for men and women in technical professions. The 'Women in Technology' scholarship, which was launched in 2019, has received expanded support since 2022 under the new name 'Women in STEM Scholarship'.

The presentation of the Zonta STEM Award to Sahar Danaei Nejad, Madelaine Bareiß and Sarah Pappert is not only an award for their individual commitment, but also a sign of the necessary change towards more equality in the MINT subjects. It is hoped that these women will act as role models and encourage other girls to find their way in science and technology. A rethink in society is necessary to break down stereotypes and increase the visibility of women in these important professions. This is the only way to sustainably improve the quality and user-friendliness of products.