Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine
Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance
Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine
Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History
Luxembourg Centre for European Law
Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems
Last 19 March, the Master in Geography and Spatial Planning programme proudly took part in the first edition of the “Young Women’s Conference Luxembourg (YWC)” at the Belval campus. The event gathered girls aged 12 to 19 for a day of panels, workshops, interactive activities, and exchanges with professionals, encouraging them to explore careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Assistant Professor in Digital Human Geographies Catherine Jones and six of her students represented the faculty with two hands-on activities designed to help participants reflect on how young women experience the city.
Mapping safety and daily movement
The first activity invited participants to use maps of Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette and trace their daily routes while highlighting the places they recognise, where they feel comfortable or less at ease. This was made possible thanks to a range of colour going from green to red (green representing areas of comfort and red of uneasiness).
“It is interesting to see which streets I avoid unconsciously because I know somehow that I feel less safe there”, shared one participant.
The workshop encouraged reflection on the links between gender, mobility, and public space, to offer participants new lens to better understand their urban environment.
Rediscovering women who shaped Luxembourg
The second activity challenged young women to match influential female figures to their correct entitled street name on a map of Luxembourg City, relying on clues about their lives and achievements. This playful exercise shed light on women who have been formally remembered.
‟ This activity demonstrated what it means to be represented on a map within the everyday spaces that shape our experience of the city. Highlighting the importance of visibility, by showing that the who is formally represented in our streets influences who feels seen, valued, and historically acknowledged. Sparking conversations about how our urban landscapes could better reflect the diversity of the society that inhabits them.”
Assistant Professor in Digital Human Geographies
Overall, both activities were warmly welcomed and aligned perfectly with YWC’s Luxembourg mission: empowering young women through an interactive format to take the lead of their lives. The Master in Geography and Spatial Planning is proud to have contributed to this meaningful first edition and looks forward to the next!
