Last Thursday, NORSAR participated in the Girl Tech party at Lillestrøm Library. Girl Tech is an initiative from the Girl Tech Association and the National Centre for Science Recruitment (NSR), and aims to increase interest in science and technology among girls.

Throughout the day, participants got to explore and test technology in practice, meet female role models from technology professions, and experience how technology can be used to create, solve problems, and contribute to social development.

NORSAR contributed with a popular and engaging activity where participants got to jump earthquakes! Through jumping and movements, the girls could see how seismic waves are recorded on real measuring instruments, just as researchers at NORSAR do when studying earthquakes.

GirlTech Fest participants jumps an earthquake

They learned about the structure of the Earth's interior, what causes earthquakes, and how even small movements from concerts, traffic or jumping Girl Tech participants can be measured by sensitive seismic equipment.

Research shows that girls' interest in science often declines after the age of 12, despite the fact that they perform just as well as boys. Girl Tech Fest therefore provides girls with a unique arena where they can experience technology on their own terms – through play, learning and mastery.