Swedish recording artist Robyn brings tech festival to American girls

"What happens when boys leave the room?" That’s the idea behind a technology festival that Swedish singer Robyn is launching for teenage girls worldwide, beginning in Washington, D.C. on International Women’s Day.

The two-day international launch of Tekla Festival, founded by Robyn in 2015, is being presented in Washington by Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the Swedish Institute and the Embassy of Sweden.

Robyn and KTH have been organizing Tekla Festival events at the university’s Stockholm campus for the last four years, and now it’s going international. The aim remains the same: to involve more teenage girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) by providing them with a fun and creative opportunity to explore and learn.

March 8 – workshop for girls
The Tekla workshop at House of Sweden will offer girls, 11 – 14 years old, from schools around the District to learn about code and explore different ways of using sensors and lasers to control music and light. The result will be an inspiring artwork that mixes technology and music.

March 9 – panels about Women in Tech
Tekla Dialogue, the second half of the launch will offer a platform for discussions about girls’ education and women in STEM. The Embassy of Sweden is proud to host this moderated conversation addressing the problem of underrepresentation of women in technology and ways of empowering girls and women by strengthening roles and opportunities.

To attend the Tekla Dialogue on March 9, please RSVP by 5 March to ambassaden.washington-press@gov.se
For questions regarding Tekla Festival: Sanna Cedergren, KTH, sannace@kth.se
For questions regarding Tekla international project: Ulrika Rosvall, SI, ulrika.rosvall@si.se

Ulrika Rosvall