At StemDays 2026, the girls from Miss Robot design, build and learn by doing
A robotic arm to design, assemble and bring to life. But above all, a new challenge to tackle together, even when starting knowledge is limited and the end result is not yet visible. This was the experience of Miss Robot, the project work proposed by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale for the 2026 edition of StemDays, the free summer camp organised in Turin by the Fondazione Human+ to introduce female students to science and technology. From 22 June to 3 July, 36 schoolgirls from secondary schools in the Metropolitan City of Turin took part in around 65 hours of activities at the Toolbox Coworking space. Training, group work, guidance and design alternated in a programme built around ‘learning by doing’, featuring four technological challenges focusing on artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and video game development.
From idea to action
With Miss Robot, the participants tackled all the stages required to create a robotic system: designing, 3D printing, assembling and commissioning a robotic arm. They were supported by trainers from the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, Riccardo Accatino and Marco Serra, the latter making his debut at StemDays. For Riccardo, the most significant outcome was not merely technical. “I found a group of girls who were always attentive, helpful and ready to put themselves to the test. It’s wonderful and inspiring to see young female students throwing themselves headlong into technical subjects they’re unfamiliar with, demonstrating a strong desire to learn and to push beyond their limits.” This dynamic perfectly captures the spirit of the camp: to create an environment where it’s possible to experiment, ask questions, make mistakes and try again, without fear of judgement.
Learning to say “I can do this”
StemDays was created precisely to counter the stereotypes and inequalities that continue to influence girls’ educational choices. Alongside technical skills, the programme focuses on building confidence, independence, collaboration, public speaking skills and an awareness of one’s own potential. Robotics thus becomes much more than simply a subject to be learnt. It is a practical arena in which to demonstrate that even a technology that is initially unfamiliar can be understood, built and mastered step by step. “As a trainer for Fondazione Mondo Digitale,” adds Accatino, “it is always a great honour to be able to share my knowledge with those who show such motivation.”
The new StemDays 2026 video brings together images and voices from the experience and captures the energy of the girls engaged in the various project-based activities: a temporary learning community where skills, curiosity and relationships grow together.
Because encouraging more girls to take an interest in scientific disciplines isn’t just about introducing them to new careers. Above all, it means offering real opportunities to discover, through experience, just how much of a role they can play in the future they are learning to build.
