Beaconing STEM Challenge

How much do you know about one of the most remarkable women from Romania and Europe, Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu? Highlighting the contributions of women to STEM, this video aims to enable a better understanding of the life and of the significance of the work of Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu. Through her pioneering research in geology and chemistry, she serves as a role model and an inspiration to the next generation of female innovators. Her love of science led her to apply to do a degree at the School of Bridges and Roads in Bucharest, but she was rejected because of her gender. Determined to follow her dreams at a time when women were not accepted in technical schools, Elisa enrolls at the Royal Technical Academy in Berlin. As the first female candidate in the history of the academy, she has faced a lot of adversity and many have tried to convince her to quit. History says one of the teachers, seeing her in the hall, cried out: “In the kitchen, there’s the women’s place, not the Polytechnic!” Even the Dean tried to use the argument that women should concentrate on “Kirche, Kinder, Küche” (church, children, cooking) to discourage her. Despite all, she graduates three years later in 1912, becoming a chemist engineer – the first female engineer in Romania, and the first female engineering graduating in Germany. She researched the production of copper sulphate, which would be used to destroy harmful fungi on cultivated plants, and developed an effective method of manufacturing it from copper ore. She also studied mineral waters in Romania, and the composition of water for industrial consumption. Another study looked at the use of bentonite in wine filtration – bentonite is still used to clarify wine today. Her personal life can be compared to the one of Marie and Pierre Curie in terms of profession, modesty, and also because she had two daughters: Măriuca and Ancuţa Zoe. During the First World War, Elisa joined the Red Cross as a volunteer nurse and led several camp hospitals in the Mărășești area. For her work, her dedication, abnegation and courage she has received several distinctions, including, the “Medal of War of the French Republic”. What a life! And what can be better than games to create engaging learning experiences? Through a location-based game, the video presents in an interactive way information on her career and on her research. Following Elisa’s steps, join us in this challenge and discover her contributions to the field of engineering and the institutions where she worked.