They are role models for other young women: Sahar Danaei Nejad, Madelaine Bareiß, and Sarah Pappert have been awarded the STEM Award by the Zonta Club Bad Nauheim-Friedberg for their academic achievements and volunteer work. Sahar Danaei Nejad accepted the award at the THM ball.
For the fourth time, the service club presented the STEM Award (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). The aim is to highlight women who are achieving exceptional results in the traditionally male-dominated STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). "We want to support them, recognize them, and put them in the spotlight as role models," said presenter Tina Trede at the award ceremony during the ball.
The first prize, worth 1,000 euros, was awarded to Sahar Danaei Nejad, a mechanical engineering student originally from Iran. After successfully completing her bachelor's degree, she is currently pursuing her master's at THMof Applied Sciences. Her passion for technology has been with her for many years – she began her mechanical engineering studies in Iran. As the political situation escalated due to protests against human and women's rights violations, she came to Germany in December 2018. She learned German in just one year and began her studies in the winter semester of 2020/21. For her outstanding achievements, she received, among other awards, a scholarship from the Hessian Ministry of Science and Research, Arts and Culture (HMWK), the Hesse Fund for Refugees, and a scholarship from the German National Academic Foundation. Alongside her studies, she is involved in the THMmotorsport team, where she helped develop a racing motorcycle, and volunteers for others – as an interpreter, in the Iranian movement "Woman, Life, Freedom," and with the VisionM association. “With her courage, determination and social commitment, Sahar Danaei Nejad is an inspiring role model for young women in STEM subjects,” emphasized Tina Trede.
The second prize, worth 500 euros, was awarded to Madelaine Bareiß. She studies Applied Physics at the Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Data Processing (MND) in Friedberg. "Despite a severe personal tragedy, she continued her studies with great determination and has also been very active at THM ," Trede explained. The prize winner is involved in various committees and serves as a mentor for new students.
The third prize winner is Sarah Pappert, who also receives 500 euros. She completed her bachelor's degree in "Physics and Technology for Space Applications," a cooperative program between THM of Applied Sciences and Justus Liebig University Giessen . This summer, she finished her master's degree and began her doctoral studies at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and the Technical University of Munich. "We were particularly impressed that she began her doctoral studies under the supervision of Frank Eisenhauer and Nobel laureate Reinhard Genzel. There were over 700 applications for this doctoral position, and Ms. Pappert was selected as one of the few female doctoral candidates – an outstanding achievement to which we extend our warmest congratulations," said Trede.