MINT-EC is the national excellence network of schools at the upper secondary level with a distinct profile in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. MINT-EC Camps are 4-day events/project weeks for about 20 students, during which they get to know the TU Dresden, the university location Dresden as well as study courses, research areas and job descriptions from the STEM sector. Our faculty has been given the opportunity to host this year’s camp from October 4 to 7 and thus to present itself to motivated and well educated students as an attractive study option. The TU Dresden supports students and schools with a focus on the MINT (STEM) area and has therefore been a member of the MINT-EC network for many years.

“IQ at the touch of a button – How artificial intelligence is shaping our future”: Interaction of humans and machines

From October 4 to 7, 22 students from schools of the national Excellence School Network MINT-EC conducted research on machine learning at the Technische Universität Dresden.

On the first day, the students got to know the campus of the Technische Universität Dresden. In addition, there was a technical introduction to the topic with an introductory lecture by scientists from the university.

In workshops, the young people worked in groups on their own research tasks with the support of employees of the Technische Universität Dresden, in particular the Cluster of Excellence CeTI and the Department of Engineering Sciences. Among others, the students were supervised by students who answered all questions concerning their future studies. MINT-EC scholarship holders, i.e. high school graduates from MINT-EC schools who received a scholarship for the first two semesters at the TU Dresden due to their excellent school-leaving qualifications and commitment to their studies, also took part.

  • Photograph of two girls and a boy standing in front of a flipchart
  • Photograph of a group of boys and girls listening to a lecture inside a CeTI room
  • Photograph of a person using a laptop computer
  • Photograph of a boy pointing towards a graph on a presentation slide that is projected against a wall
  • Photograph of a group of girls and boys sitting and talking together
  • Photograph of a girl wearing a hat receiving a paper from a person
  • Group photograph of boys and girls holding a certificate
  • A buffet table filled with different food and dips on it

At the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden, the young people visited an exhibition on artificial intelligence. The exhibition addresses man-made risks and opportunities of AI development. In the interactive and informative exposition, the participants experienced the interface of everyday life, technology and art. Finally, the participants presented their results of the research tasks they worked out in groups and had the opportunity to review the past week at a get-together lunch.

MINT-EC-Camp Voices

Photos by Sebastian Weingart