It was a memorable image: more than 300 young people in colorful team shirts, with national flags in their hands or on their badges, gathered in front of the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Bonn. Some threw scarves over their shoulders, others held an ice cream in their hands. It was loud, lively, open and surprisingly global for a European competition. In addition to countries from Europe, delegations from other parts of the world took part, including Brazil, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and New Zealand.
The reason for this colorful activity: The European Girls' Olympiad in Informatics (EGOI), which took place in Germany for the first time from July 14 to 20, 2025. Bonn hosted the only international programming competition specifically for schoolgirls and non-binary young people. More than 200 participants from around 50 countries came together. The kick-off on the Campus Poppelsdorf showed that this event is not just a contest, but also a stage for community, research and equal opportunities.
A strong network behind EGOI 2025
EGOI 2025 was organized by the nationwide computer science competitions (BWINF) together with Deutsche Telekom AG and Jane Street - in partnership with the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Bonn and the Lamarr Institute. "We are delighted to support the world's largest programming competition for girls as an Academic Partner. The promotion of women in Computer Science is particularly important to us, because diversity and equal opportunities are decisive factors for innovation and progress in our field and related disciplines," says Dr Felix Boes, head of the GIDIS equality working group and organizer of the EGOI on behalf of the Institute of Computer Science.
Before the opening ceremony took place in the lecture hall, Bonn Informatics offered insights into its work: the students were able to learn about current research at the Institute of Computer Science in workshops, from AI to robotics, from software design to data science. At the same time, the team leaders attended the “Science Coffee - Computer Science in Bonn” reception in the lecture hall center. There, various stands invited them to talk about equality in Computer Science, Cyber Security, the Lamarr Institute's sphere of activity, the transfer of research to industry with EnaCom and international studies in Bonn. Discussions and networking took place over snacks and drinks.
Flags, research, female perspectives: the opening in the lecture hall
In the large lecture hall, which was filled to the last seat, Dr. Wolfgang Pohl from BWINF moderated the official opening. Greetings from Rector Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Hoch and Bonn's mayor Katja Dörner made it clear: “Bonn is the place to be” - especially in Computer Science. The program was accompanied musically by Clara Wedel (trombone) and Effie Falkenroth (piano).
This was followed by an exciting panel discussion on the topic of “Your Future in Computer Science - Why We Need More Diversity in IT” with impressive panelists: Christine Regitz, President Gesellschaft für Informatik (GI), Janine Rensmann, Chief Human Resources Officer at Deutsche Telekom and Prof. Dr. Lucie Flek, Professor of Data Science and Language Technologies at the Bonn-Aachen International Center for Information Technology (b-it) and Area Chair for Natural Language Processing at the Lamarr Institute. The panel was moderated by Gabriela Brüll, PhD student, and Anna Höpner, Master's student of Computer Science Bonn. The discussion on stage made it clear that equal opportunities and diversity are not an add-on, but the basis of a responsible digital world.
Why diversity is the future of IT
"If only a small group decides everything, the technology won't be right for everyone in the end. We need more voices, more points of view - so that AI is fair and really helps everyone. Your ideas can change everything. AI is shaping our future and that needs young women like you,” said Prof. Dr. Lucie Flek. She conducts research at the b-it and Lamarr Institute at the University of Bonn in a diverse and multicultural team on the topic of artificial intelligence and language processing. These experiences clearly shape her views on the importance of diversity in science: “Research thrives on creativity. New ideas emerge when you see things differently, from a different perspective. And that requires people with different experiences and backgrounds. This is precisely why diversity is so important in AI and why we at the Lamarr Institute are committed to researching AI methodically from different perspectives and addressing diverse areas of application.”
The emotional highlight of the opening was the presentation of the teams. The delegations from over 50 countries were called out individually, each accompanied by applause and small creative gestures. For example, the Croatian women threw their hats into the audience and the Swiss women shared chocolate. There was an Olympic atmosphere, without any sport, but with just as much fairness and euphoria.
Computer Science Bonn campaigns for more women in IT
The fact that the opening ceremony could take place at the Campus Poppelsdorf is mainly thanks to the commitment of Dr. Felix Boes. "With our participation, we want to encourage girls and young women to explore and develop their interest and talents in the field of computer science. In addition, we also regularly offer various programs, prizes, and events for our female students to support and network them on their path. Our goal is to create an inspiring and nurturing environment where everyone can reach their full potential." Boes works as an Academic Advisor in Informatics IV, where he heads the GIDIS equal opportunities working group. This supports female students of Computer Science in particular with exclusive events and prizes, such as company visits, networking events and the Grace Hopper Prize for outstanding theses.
Competition, excursions, and awards
Maximum concentration was required on the two competition days at the Telekom Forum. The focus was on algorithmic thinking, perseverance and creativity. The program was supplemented by excursions, for example to Deutsche Telekom and the “Jane Street Day” with workshops and company insights.
At the end, 20 gold, 31 silver and 64 bronze medals were awarded. But regardless of their ranking, all participants gained self-confidence, inspiration, and a network that connects people across continents.
Since its foundation in 2021, EGOI has not only grown in numbers, but also in importance. The next edition will take place in Italy in May 2026 with the same goal: to make diversity visible, promote talent and work together towards an inclusive IT future.
