weSTEM High School Conference 2026

April 4th, 2026 | Abu Dhabi, UAE

Campus Center C2 building - West Forum at NYU Abu Dhabi

The weSTEM High School Conference is a collaborative, interdisciplinary and locally engaged initiative, designed to promote diversity and female presence in the STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in and beyond the United Arab Emirates. One of our primary objectives is to stimulate interest and facilitate high school girl's preparation into successful STEM college studies and careers.

The conference is focused on developing basic technical and interpersonal skill sets for girls who aspire to work in STEM and will consist of seminars focusing on careers and career development within the STEM field as well as workshops that teach various areas in STEM.

Conference Agenda

Time Activity
8:00–9:00 Registration and Welcome Session
9:00–10:00 Breakfast and Ice-Breaker Activities
10:00–11:45 A Hands-on STEM Workshop Session
12:00–13:00 Lunch and Informal Networking
13:00–13:30 Post-Lunch Energizing Activity
13:45–14:45 Panel Discussion with Researchers and NYUAD Faculty
14:45–15:00 Closing Remarks and Reflections

Workshops

The conference program brings together interactive, hands-on workshops across various STEM fields alongside opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and engagement with university students and researchers. Each workshop is designed to introduce students to real scientific and engineering thinking through short guided introductions followed by practical activities.

Engineering Workshop: DIY Mini Piano

Students will design and test a simple electronic system that produces sound using an ESP32 microcontroller, buttons, and basic circuit components. The workshop emphasizes engineering trade-offs, system optimization, and iterative problem-solving under constraints.

Physics Workshop: Holographic Rainbow Chocolate

Students will explore diffraction and interference by creating and analyzing rainbow patterns on chocolate surfaces. Through measurements and data analysis, participants connect observations to physical models while discussing uncertainty and experimental error.

Chemistry Workshop: Chemical Mystery Investigation

Students are given several unknown aqueous solutions and a limited set of chemical tests (pH indicators, conductivity, and selected reactions) and must determine each solution's identity. The workshop focuses on experimental design, chemical reasoning, and evidence-based conclusions.

Biology Workshop: Brain Flies

Students analyze real fluorescence microscopy images from mutant Drosophila brains to identify when and where specific genes are active during development. Participants locate regions of gene expression and count labeled cells to help interpret genetic function.

Artificial Intelligence Workshop: AI in Healthcare

Students will discover how artificial intelligence is transforming modern healthcare through real-world applications such as medical imaging and disease detection. After a short introductory talk, they work in small groups to research a clinical AI use case and create a brief poster explaining how the system works, what data it relies on, and its potential impact on patient care. The workshop concludes with short presentations and a discussion on future careers in AI and research pathways, especially opportunities for young researchers in STEM.

Important Note for Schools: Students will participate in one hands-on workshop during the conference. Please fill out this form to indicate your workshop preferences.

Registration Fees (Including VAT)

Please find the confirmed registration fees per student below:

Early Bird: Feb 1 – Feb 23, 2026
AED 84
Regular: Feb 24 – Mar 10, 2026
AED 105

School counselors and representatives are exempt from the registration fee.

Register Here

Important Attendance Policies

  • Please note that participation in selected workshops requires the completion and submission of the following forms: Media Release Form and Liability & Safety Waiver.
  • All students and counselors/designated school representatives must be registered in advance in order to attend.
  • We will not accept any applicants after March 10, 2026.
  • For the student to receive a certificate of attendance, they must be engaged at the conference for the full day.
  • A school counselor or a designated school representative must attend the conference with students.
  • Only registered students will be permitted to attend the conference.
  • Light breakfast and lunch will be provided for registered attendees only.
  • Students may visit the campus coffee shop only during designated breaks and must be accompanied by a school counselor or designated school representative.
  • No transportation will be provided; transportation arrangements are the responsibility of the school.

Gallery

Testimonials