Astana, Kazakhstan – The European Union (EU) supported a field trip, which gathered 30 senior students of School-Lyceum №59 of the Astana city at the wind power plant “Astana EXPO-2017”. This event, called “STEM4Her”, was part of the EU–Kazakhstan Sustainable Energy Days and primarily aimed at the senior schoolgirls. It increased their awareness about clean energy and inspired to pursue higher education and careers in the energy sector and STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).
In Kazakhstan, women account for up to 32% of STEM graduates and only 25% of the energy sector workforce. Social perceptions and little awareness hinder young women from considering careers in these fields. To address this, the STEM4Her event introduced the schoolchildren to successful female leaders and professionals.
Aleška Simkić, the EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, welcomed the participants of the field trip: “In today’s world, which is based on science and technology, a good education in STEM has become a necessary condition for success not only in career but in almost all aspects of human activity. STEM is not just numbers or working in labs. It is the ability to solve real problems and change lives for the better, which can lead to an amazing career. Take a look at the renewable energy sector – it is developing very dynamically right now. Supporting girls and young women in this regard is especially important – when girls enter STEM, it helps to develop new, diverse ideas. In 2023, we awarded your school as “The Most Energy Efficient School of Astana”. This highlights your achievements, and I am confident that many more bright victories await you – keep striving for new heights and continue to delight us with your successes!”
Participants had the opportunity to meet and engage with leading experts, including Ainur Sospanova, Chairperson of the Qazaq Green Association; Ilze Purina, Energy Sector Governance Expert and Key Expert at the EU-funded SECCA project; and Konstantin Konyushkov, Head of the Wind Farm.
Through the visit to the wind farm and organised interactive sessions, the schoolchildren learned how the wind park operates and the electricity is generated, how clean energy can tackle climate change, solve environmental pollution, and bring sustainable development. The experts and the wind farm employees demonstrated how STEM-disciplines can be applied in the energy projects.
The field trip was organised by the EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” in cooperation with the Qazaq Green Association.
Background:
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
The European Union – Kazakhstan Sustainable Energy Days is part of the broader European Union – Central Asia Sustainable Energy Days campaign. Its purpose is to enhance the awareness of national stakeholders and the public in the region of Central Asia on the significance, benefits and accessibility of sustainable energy and the interlinkage between energy and climate change. It also represents a global edition of EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the largest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe, initiated in 2007 by the European Commission.
The EU-funded project “Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia (SECCA)” (from March 2022 to March 2026) aims to promote a sustainable energy mix in the Central Asia region in line with EU best practices. SECCA strives to provide for strengthened and more inclusive policy, regulatory and institutional framework for the transition to a sustainable energy system, within a regional context. It also focuses on raising the public’s awareness about energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE), and improving investment climate for EE and RE projects.
“Astana EXPO-2017” Wind Farm is a 100MW wind power plant located in the Akmola Region, Kazakhstan. It supplies the annual energy consumption of over 10,000 families, saves over 79,000 thousand tons of conventional fuel per year, and has achieved the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of over 230,000 tons per year, which is equivalent to emissions from more than 113,000 cars.
For additional information, please contact Mrs Yelena Serebrennikova, SECCA Communication strategist, email: media@secca.eu, Mrs Nurgul Smagulova-Dulic, SECCA Media relations expert, email: nurgul.smagulova@secca.eu, or the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan: delegation-kazakhstan-pic@eeas.europa.eu.
