{"organism":"Page","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","children":[{"organism":"Metadata","model":{"title":"Cosmic Girls: ex-Shell-er helpt vrouwen in de ruimte, en op de grond","text":"Dertien jaar geleden verliet Mindy Howard vrijwillig Shell, tijdens de eerste grote reorganisatie van deze eeuw met de wens om astronaut te worden. Nu is ze oprichter en directeur van Cosmic Girls: een unieke wedstrijd voor jonge vrouwen die astronaut willen worden, met als belangrijk nevendoel gelijke kansen voor vrouwen in de ruimtevaart, en op Aarde.","links":[{"name":"Lees Mindy's verhaal","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g.html"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/_jcr_content/root/metadata.shellimg.jpeg/1715161172942/netherlands-peopel-cosmicgirls-aigenerated169.jpeg","alt":"Comsic Girls (Foto: Cosmic Girls/AI generated)","width":4238,"height":2384},"date":"2024-02-02T10:15:00.000Z","tags":[{"name":"Interviews","value":"shell:netherlands/shell-venster-magazine/interviews"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/metadata"},{"organism":"ContentOwner","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/contentowner"},{"organism":"Container.Header","children":[{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/_jcr_content/root/header/inherited.model.json","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/header/inherited"},{"organism":"Breadcrumb","model":{"links":[{"name":"Home","value":"https://www.shell.nl/"},{"name":"Over ons","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons.html"},{"name":"Nieuws","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws.html"},{"name":"Shell Venster","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster.html"},{"name":"Shell Venster 2024","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster/shell-venster-2024.html"},{"name":"Cosmic Girls: ex-Shell-er helpt vrouwen in de ruimte, en op de grond","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/header/breadcrumb"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/header"},{"organism":"Container.Main","children":[{"organism":"Container.Section","children":[{"organism":"PageHeader.Date","color":"brand1","model":{"title":"Cosmic Girls: ex-Shell-er helpt vrouwen in de ruimte, en op de grond","text":"\u003Cp\u003E\"Dus je wil astronaut worden? Maar nu even serieus?\" Zo begon het volgende hoofdstuk in het leven van de in Nederland wonende ex-Shell-er Mindy Howard. Veertien jaar geleden verliet de geboren Amerikaanse vrijwillig het energiebedrijf tijdens de eerste grote reorganisatie van deze eeuw met de wens om astronaut te worden. Nu is ze oprichter en directeur van Cosmic Girls: een unieke wedstrijd voor jonge vrouwen die astronaut willen worden, met als belangrijk nevendoel de promotie van exact onderwijs onder meisjes. Oftewel: gelijke kansen voor vrouwen in de ruimtevaart, en op Aarde.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{"name":"Lees meer","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g.html"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/_jcr_content/root/main/section/item.shellimg.jpeg/1706874650246/netherlands-peopel-cosmicgirls-aigenerated.jpeg","alt":"Comsic Girls (Foto: Cosmic Girls/AI generated)","width":6000,"height":2384},"date":"2024-02-02T10:15:00.000Z"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/item"},{"organism":"Author.Info","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETekst:\u003C/b\u003E Marcel Burger. \u003Cb\u003EBeeld:\u003C/b\u003E Cosmic Girls (courtesy, AI generated), Mindy Howard (courtesy)\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/_jcr_content/root/main/section/author.shellimg.jpeg/1706862462856/netherlands-peopel-cosmicgirls-aigenerated.jpeg","alt":"Comsic Girls (Foto: Cosmic Girls/AI generated)","width":6000,"height":2384}},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/author"},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":8,"model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"#english\"\u003EFor the English version, click here or scroll down\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/i\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECovid vertraagde Howards eigen reis naar de ruimte maar haar kansen zijn nog niet verkeken. In de tussentijd richt ze zich op het geven van kansen aan meisjes die net als zij naar de ruimte willen via een wereldwijde wedstrijd, ondersteunt door de World Space Week van de Verenigde Naties.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/text"},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","colspan":3,"model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/_jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/standalone_asset.shellimg.jpeg/1706868041237/netherlands-people-mindyhoward01-mindyhoward.jpeg","caption":"Mindy Howard","alt":"Mindy Howard (Beeld: Mindy Howard (courtesy)","width":1034,"height":1245}},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/standalone_asset"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":5,"model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EDe competitie is voor meisjes in het algemeen, maar stoelt ook op gelijke kansen voor hen die al een grotere uitdaging hebben. \"Stel je eens voor, dat een meisje uit een zogeheten kansarme wijk meedoet aan de wedstrijd en wint. De impact die dit heeft op haar, haar familie, op haar leeftijdsgenoten of mensen met dezelfde culturele achtergrond en misschien zelfs haar land. Met Cosmic Girls wil ik niet alleen hoop, maar meisjes ook echt mogelijkheden geven om hun dromen waar te maken\", zegt Howard.\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESinds de Russische kosmonaute Valentina Tereshkova in 1963 de eerste vrouw buiten de dampkring werd, is slechts 12% van de ruimtereizigers vrouw geweest. Net als op aarde, bestaat gendergelijkheid niet in de ruimte.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E“Bij de Cosmic Girls-wedstrijd wordt uit alle deelnemers van ieder continent één meisje geselecteerd, en uiteindelijk mag er één finaliste door naar de astronautentraining,\" vertelt Howard. \"Die omvat ook lessen in mentale weerbaarheid, paraboolvluchten en hoe om te gaan met zwaartekrachtversnelling, zogenoemde G-krachten.”\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/text_copy"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":8,"model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EDat laatste zal gebeuren in centrifuges – snelle draaimolens – op trainingsfaciliteiten voor astronauten in Europa en de Verenigde Staten. En voor de niet-kenners: bij paraboolvluchten maakt een stijgend vliegtuig plots een duikvlucht, waarbij dan circa 20 seconden een soort gewichtloosheid lijkt te ontstaan – alsof je als mens even in de ruimte bent.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EMee op een suborbitale ruimtevlucht\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDe uiteindelijke winnaar mag mee op een echte suborbitale ruimtevlucht. Daarmee bereikt een ruimtevaartuig wel de ruimte op iets meer dan 100 kilometer hoogte, maar keert weer terug in de aardse dampkring voordat een heel rondje is gevlogen. Alhoewel er nog geen officiële partner is aangekondigd, worden dit type vluchten op dit moment aangeboden door ruimtevaartbedrijven Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin en SpaceX.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHoward: \"Het gaat niet om het ene meisje dat wint en de ruimte ingaat. Het gaat om het promoten van exacte vakken en ruimteonderwijs voor meisjes om daarmee een stroom van getalenteerde jonge vrouwen voor de ruimtevaartindustrie te creëren. En wie geen astronaut zal worden, want de mogelijkheden zijn nog altijd beperkt, zal de geleerde vaardigheden kunnen gebruiken voor welke baan dan ook. Ook in de energiesector. Bij Cosmic Girls draait alles om verbeteren van vaardigheden, en het versterken van doorzettingsvermogen en veerkracht.”\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EZe vervolgt enthousiast: \"Vrouwen in vooraanstaande posities in het bedrijfsleven of de maatschappij zijn uitzonderlijk. Zij hebben geworsteld en gevochten om te komen waar ze zijn.”\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EDrive en geloof\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMindy Howard bereikte waar ze nu is door een reorganisatie bij Shell in 2010, en door creatief te denken: wat nu? “En omdat mijn Shell-loopbaanadviseur mij steunde”, zegt ze. Voor het succes van Cosmic Girls zijn nog wel fondsen nodig, het financiële plaatje is nog niet helemaal rond, maar de drive en het geloof zijn er.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/text_copy_copy"},{"organism":"CallToAction.Stacked","color":"brand3","colspan":4,"colstart":3,"model":{"links":[{"name":"Meer weten? Ga naar Cosmicgirls.org","value":"https://www.cosmicgirls.org/"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple/call_to_action"}],"colspan":8,"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple"},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"brand1-solid","model":{"title":"Gendergelijkheid en Shell","text":"\u003Cp\u003EShell heeft een actief beleid om talent een kans te geven, en de positie van vrouwen is door de jaren heen verbeterd. Inmiddels vertellen de Shell-statistieken (2022 is het meest recent) dat het energieconcern wereldwijd onder afgestudeerden ongeveer evenveel vrouwen als mannen (49,1 en 50,9%) werft. Bij promoties en het aantrekken van (ervaren) professionals is 40% vrouw. Onder het hoger management is bijna 28% vrouw, maar daarop zijn ook uitzonderingen. Onder meer bij de Shell Raad van Bestuur van 13 mensen (46% vrouw) en het 10-koppen tellende Leadership Team van Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam (70% vrouw). Ook sommige geografische locaties springen eruit, zoals de Shell Energy Campus in Kraków, Polen (67% vrouw).\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca title=\"Shells sociale overzicht op Reports.shell.com\" href=\"https://reports.shell.com/sustainability-report/2022/our-performance-data/social-data.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EKlik hier voor Shells sociale overzicht (2022)\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_425405753/text"},{"organism":"Quote","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"Mindy Howard, astronaut in opleiding","text":"\u003Cp\u003E\"Vrouwen in vooraanstaande posities in het bedrijfsleven of de maatschappij (...) hebben geworsteld en gevochten.\"\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_425405753/quote"}],"colspan":4,"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/simple_425405753"},{"organism":"Container.XF","children":[{"organism":"Container.Section","color":"brand1-solid","children":[{"organism":"PromoCard","color":"brand1","model":{"title":"Meer interviews","links":[{"value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster/venster---interviews.html"}],"image":{"src":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/nl-venster-general/_jcr_content/root/section_820370745/promo_copy_202919122.shellimg.jpeg/1734442953221/netherlands-venster2412-microphone-169.jpeg","alt":"A microphone and an interviewer","width":2041,"height":1149}},"colspan":4,"id":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/nl-venster-general/jcr_content/root/section_820370745/promo_copy_202919122"},{"organism":"PromoCard","color":"brand1","model":{"title":"Meer energietransitie","links":[{"value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster/venster-energietransitie.html"}],"image":{"src":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/nl-venster-general/_jcr_content/root/section_820370745/promo_copy.shellimg.jpeg/1734442615265/netherlands-blauwwind-offshorewind-2022-stuartconway.jpeg","alt":"Energietransitie","width":5464,"height":3074}},"colspan":4,"id":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/nl-venster-general/jcr_content/root/section_820370745/promo_copy"},{"organism":"PromoCard","color":"brand1","model":{"title":"Meer 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Venster"},"id":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/nl-venster-general/jcr_content/root/section_820370745"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section/experience_fragment"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section"},{"organism":"Container.Section","color":"brand1-subtle","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Ca id=\"english\"\u003E\u003C/a\u003EEnglish version\u003C/i\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/text_666088107"},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/_jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/standalone_asset.shellimg.jpeg/1706874061181/netherlands-peopel-cosmicgirls-aigenerated.jpeg","alt":"Cosmic Girls (Courtesy: Cosmic Girls/AI generated)","width":6000,"height":2384}},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/standalone_asset"},{"organism":"Quote.Large","color":"inherited","model":{"title":" The story of Mindy Howard, and about gender equality","text":"\u003Cp\u003ECosmic Girls: former Shellonian helps women in space and beyond\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/quote"},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":8,"model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E2 Feb. 2024\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E“So, you want to become an astronaut? Seriously?” This is how the new life of Mindy Howard, living in the Netherlands, began when she volunteered to leave Shell in its first big reorganisation of this Millennium. More than a dozen years later, the US-born Howard is the founding director of a promising program. Cosmic Girls is for young women who aspire to be astronauts, promotes STEM education for girls on the way. The bigger picture: help inequity for women in space and beyond finally escape the gravity of Earth.\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Csup\u003E\u003Cb\u003EText:\u003C/b\u003E Marcel Burger. \u003Cb\u003EIllustrations:\u003C/b\u003E Cosmic Girls (courtesy, AI generated), Mindy Howard (courtesy)\u003C/sup\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECOVID delayed Mindy’s opportunity to go to space. For now, she is focusing on giving girls a similar opportunity as she got, via a worldwide competition backed by the United Nations World Space Week. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple/text"},{"organism":"StandaloneAsset","color":"inherited","colspan":3,"model":{"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/_jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple/standalone_asset_cop.shellimg.jpeg/1706868041237/netherlands-people-mindyhoward01-mindyhoward.jpeg","caption":"Mindy Howard","alt":"Mindy Howard (Beeld: Mindy Howard (courtesy)","width":1034,"height":1245}},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple/standalone_asset_cop"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","colspan":5,"model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EThe competition is for all girls, but also focuses on giving equal chances for those with already a bigger challenge to start with. “Imagine a girl from the slums who feels like she has no prospects in life. She enters this competition — and wins! The impact that this would have on her, her family, her community, and her country is a message of incomparable hope and possibility which Cosmic Girls can bring to her and those around her,” says Howard.  \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESince Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in 1963, only 12% of the humans that travelled beyond Earth’s atmosphere was female. Equality in space might not be great, down on the surface of the planet it is not much better.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E“The plan of Cosmic Girls is that out of all of those entering the competition, one girl from each of the six continents of Earth will be selected as a finalist for astronaut training. This will include trainings in mental preparedness, parabolic flight, and the high-G test centrifuge training at facilities in Europe and the United States.”\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple/text_copy_copy"},{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"inherited","model":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003EThe latter are some kind of high speed merry-go-rounds.  And for those who are new to the concept: during parabolic flights, a climbing aircraft suddenly makes a nosedive, which then creates something that feels like weightlessness. For about 20 seconds, it is like you are floating through space.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003ESeat on a suborbital space flight\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe grand prize winner will be granted a seat on an actual suborbital space flight. Here the spacecraft does reach space, at about 100 kilometres (328,000 feet), but returns to the Earth's atmosphere before it has flown a full circle. Although no official partner has been announced yet, space flight companies Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin and Space X offer these options. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E“It is not about the one girl that wins and makes it to space”, Howard says. “It is about promoting STEM and space education for girls in by creating a pipeline of talented young women for the space industry. And those who will not become an astronaut, because of such few possibilities available, will definitely have the skills to become whatever they decide. Including having a career in the energy industry.” STEM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHoward continues enthusiastically: “Women in positions or in the forefront of any business or society are exceptional individuals. These women have struggled and fought many battles to land where they are now.”\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Ch3\u003EDrive and belief\u003C/h3\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGiving female talent a break is what Mindy wants for girls, and it is what she got from Shell when she was transitioned out in the 2010 reorganisation. \"And because my Shell career counsellor believed in me,\" Mindy Howard says. Meanwhile she is using the lessons she learned to help others. To make Cosmic Girls a success, funds are needed as the financial picture is not complete yet, but the drive and the belief are most certainly there already.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple/text_613680874"},{"organism":"CallToAction.Stacked","color":"brand3-subtle","colspan":6,"colstart":2,"model":{"links":[{"name":"Want to know more? Click here for Cosmicgirls.org","value":"https://www.cosmicgirls.org/"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple/call_to_action_copy"}],"colspan":8,"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple"},{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoSimple.Text","color":"brand1-solid","model":{"title":"Gender equality within Shell","text":"\u003Cp\u003EShell has an active policy to promote talent, and for women the company has come a long way. According to Shell's own publicly released data, 2022 is the most recent year available, women almost equal men in graduate hires (49.1 vs 50.9%), while promotions and professional hires is on roughly 40%. Women in senior and executive leadership positions form less than 28% of the force. Some parts of Shell stand out, like the Board of Directors of 13 people (46% women), the Shell Energy Campus in Kraków (67% women among 5,400 employees) and the 10-people strong Leadership Team of Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam (70% women).\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca title=\"Shell's social data at Reports.shell.com\" href=\"https://reports.shell.com/sustainability-report/2022/our-performance-data/social-data.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EClick here for Shell's social data (2022)\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple_2110317159/text"},{"organism":"Quote","color":"inherited","model":{"title":"Mindy Howard, Astronaut-in-training","text":"\u003Cp\u003E“Women in positions or in the forefront of any business or society (...) have struggled and fought many battles.”\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\r\n"},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple_2110317159/quote"}],"colspan":4,"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316/simple_2110317159"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_719626316"},{"organism":"Container.Section","children":[{"organism":"Container","children":[{"organism":"PromoCard","color":"brand1","model":{"title":"Nieuws","text":"\u003Cp\u003ELees ons laatste nieuws, bekijk de filmpjes met uitleg. Voor journalisten is er de perskamer en voor iedereen zijn er dossiers te raadplegen.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","links":[{"value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws.html"}],"image":{"src":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/master/_jcr_content/root/promo.shellimg.jpeg/1742994096930/borssele-iii--iv-offshore-wind-farm--nl--2022--1-.jpeg","alt":"Nieuws","width":5460,"height":3072}},"colspan":4,"id":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/master/jcr_content/root/promo"},{"organism":"PromoCard","color":"brand1","model":{"title":"Shell Venster","text":"\u003Cp\u003EOoit papier, nu digitaal, altijd inzichtelijk. Venster verrijkt je kennis en verruimt je blik over de ontwikkelingen in de energiewereld en bij Shell. Iedere maand, gratis, voor iedereen.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","links":[{"value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster.html"}],"image":{"src":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/master/_jcr_content/root/promo_948473118.shellimg.jpeg/1738164718823/169-cover-venster-04-2023.jpeg","alt":"Venster Magazine","width":7111,"height":4000}},"colspan":4,"id":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/master/jcr_content/root/promo_948473118"},{"organism":"PromoCard","color":"brand1","model":{"title":"Wie wij zijn","text":"\u003Cp\u003EWat is en wat doet Shell in Nederland?\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","links":[{"value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/wie-wij-zijn.html"}],"image":{"src":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/master/_jcr_content/root/promo_2074326104.shellimg.jpeg/1701965516569/borssele-iii--iv-offshore-wind-farm--nl--2022.jpeg","alt":"Carel van Bylandtlaan","width":8192,"height":4608}},"colspan":4,"id":"/content/experience-fragments/shell/amidala/NL/promo-footer-1/master/jcr_content/root/promo_2074326104"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_187726945/experience_fragment"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main/section_187726945"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/main"},{"organism":"Container.Footer","children":[{"organism":"Breadcrumb.Large","model":{"links":[{"name":"Home","value":"https://www.shell.nl/"},{"name":"Over ons","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons.html"},{"name":"Nieuws","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws.html"},{"name":"Shell Venster","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster.html"},{"name":"Shell Venster 2024","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster/shell-venster-2024.html"},{"name":"Cosmic Girls: ex-Shell-er helpt vrouwen in de ruimte, en op de grond","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g.html"}]},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/footer/breadcrumb"},{"organism":"Container.Raw","ref":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/_jcr_content/root/footer/inherited.model.json","model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/footer/inherited"}],"model":{},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content/root/footer"}],"model":{},"id":"/conf/shell/settings/wcm/templates/base/structure/jcr_content/root"}],"model":{"title":"Cosmic Girls: ex-Shell-er helpt vrouwen in de ruimte, en op de grond","text":"Dertien jaar geleden verliet Mindy Howard vrijwillig Shell, tijdens de eerste grote reorganisatie van deze eeuw met de wens om astronaut te worden. Nu is ze oprichter en directeur van Cosmic Girls: een unieke wedstrijd voor jonge vrouwen die astronaut willen worden, met als belangrijk nevendoel gelijke kansen voor vrouwen in de ruimtevaart, en op Aarde.","date":"2024-02-02T10:15:00.000Z","links":[{"name":"canonical","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons/nieuws/venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g.html"},{"name":"hierarchy","value":"nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g"},{"name":"homeTitle","value":"Over ons"},{"name":"homeUrl","value":"https://www.shell.nl/over-ons.html"},{"name":"locale","value":"nl-NL"},{"name":"title","value":"Cosmic Girls: ex-Shell-er helpt vrouwen in de ruimte, en op de grond | Over ons"},{"name":"textDirection","value":"ltr"},{"name":"template","value":"base"},{"name":"contentPath","value":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g"},{"name":"externalDisclaimerText","value":"Juridische Disclaimer Shell plc\r\n\r\nJe verlaat nu de website van Shell in Nederland.\r\n\r\nDe link die je hebt geselecteerd verwijst naar een website die niet is gecontroleerd door Shell plc of een lid van de Shell Group. 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Hieronder vallen de sponsor van de website en eventueel beleid en eventuele activiteiten en diensten die op de website worden aangeboden, door enige adverteerder op de website of die aan de website is verbonden.\r\n\r\nBedankt voor je bezoek aan de website van Shell in Nederland."},{"name":"themeMode"},{"name":"lastModified","value":"2026-11-03T13:16:03.958Z"},{"name":"themeName","value":"base"},{"name":"themePath","value":"/etc.clientlibs/amidala/clientlibs/theme-base"},{"name":"themeCss","value":"/etc.clientlibs/amidala/clientlibs/theme-base.ACSHASHb291465fc8d3c7bcefde74d34044b698.css"}],"tags":[{"name":"Interviews","value":"shell:netherlands/shell-venster-magazine/interviews"}],"image":{"src":"https://www.shell.nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/_jcr_content/root/metadata.shellimg.jpeg/1715161172942/netherlands-peopel-cosmicgirls-aigenerated169.jpeg","alt":"Comsic Girls (Foto: Cosmic Girls/AI generated)","width":4238,"height":2384}},"id":"/content/shell/countries/netherland/nl_nl/about-us/news/shell-venster/shell-venster-2024/cosmic-girls--ex-shell-er-helpt-vrouwen-in-de-ruimte--en-op-de-g/jcr_content"}