The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has honored Stephan Krusche with the Angela Molitoris Diversity Award. The prize recognizes outstanding achievements in the fields of equal opportunities, and diversity.
The prize is awarded to TUM employees who are particularly committed to promoting women and strengthening diversity in science and teaching. The prize is named after Angela Molitoris (1912–2002), the first female syndic and first female chancellor of TUM, who was committed to the advancement of women in science throughout her life.
- Professor Claudia Peus, Senior Vice President for Talent Management and Diversity at the Technical University of Munich, presents Professor Stephan Krusche with the Angela Molitoris Diversity Award. Photo: Astrid Eckert
Promoting women in Computer Science
Stephan and his team are committed to equal opportunities and diversity in various ways. In particular, they promote women in teaching and computer science as a subject. They try to inspire female students to study computer science and offer them the support they need to succeed in a male-dominated field.
One outstanding event that Stephan has created is the “Breaking Barriers” workshop, which will take place again on December 18, 2024, as part of the “Introduction to Programming” course. Here, female students take on the role of lecturers and thus become role models. As they are close to their peers in terms of age and experience, the content they teach resonates more strongly with the students. Using examples from their personal application and research, they make the complicated world of programming more accessible. In this way, female perspectives in computer science become more visible, and young women learn that they can be successful in this discipline.
Inspiring the next generation of female computer scientists
As a TUM ambassador, Stephan supports several initiatives to promote girls and women in computer science. For example, he is involved in she.codes by TEC, a program that offers free programming courses for girls. This gives young women the skills they need to succeed in computer science and technology.
Ramona Beinstingel manages projects such as TUM Entdeckerinnen and Girls’ Day, which aim to get schoolgirls interested in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The workshops and events give participants an understanding of programming. Female students serve as role models.
Commitment beyond the job of a professor
Stephan’s work is a prime example of the promotion of equal opportunities in science and diversity in teaching. TUM also justifies its selection with the fact that his personal commitment goes far beyond the duties of a professor:
“In our role as lecturers, it is important to encourage and support talent. It is our duty to create an environment where students of all genders are encouraged to take a leadership role and express their unique points of view.” He has made it his mission to break down barriers for women in computer science and actively create an inclusive, supportive environment that allows all students, regardless of gender or background, to fulfill their potential.