QueenB Turns February into Women & Girls in Science Month

For 10 years, the United Nations has marked February 11 as “International Day of Women and Girls in Science.” However, over the past few years, QueenB, a Hadassah Foundation grant recipient, has taken the day one step farther by celebrating the entire month of February as “Women and Girls in Science Month.”

Founded in 2016, QueenB seeks to increase the representation of Israeli women in the high-tech industry, specifically in technological positions, to promote gender equality and equal employment opportunities. Through its engaging programs and workshops, QueenB teaches Israeli girls of all backgrounds to code and nurtures a community of female students in computer science and engineering.

Special events for the month included a hackathon in collaboration with AppsFlyer, an Israeli mobile marketing analytics company. The hackathon, a competition, focused on creating apps that enhance the safety of girls and women. One hundred college students participated in 21 teams, each of which developed its own tech product. In the beginners’ track, the winning team developed an innovative interface that uses games and other interactive activities to teach about cyberbullying. In the advanced track, the winning team was “BODYFRIENDLY,” a venture that uses AI and a unique algorithm to rank fashion companies according to how well they promote positive body image.

QueenB’s teen participants marked the month with a series of field trips to the offices of high-tech firms throughout Israel, such as Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Dell, and Check Point. The visits included panel discussions with women working in the host company, lectures by women in senior positions, and hands-on experience in the labs.

Below are some photos from the hackathon at AppsFlyer.