- Magazine
- Trainee Blog
- Showing the next generation where technology can lead
Showing the next generation where technology can lead
Not long ago, we were the students trying to figure out which education to choose and what a career in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) could actually look like. That puts us in a pretty unique position to show the next generation what opportunities are out there.
Trainee Blog
12.11.2026
Elkem Fiskaa welcomed local girls for a day exploring STEM careers
Together with the Girls and Technology (Jenter og Teknologi) project, Elkem welcomed a group of girls aged 13-14 to Fiskaa for a day exploring science, technology and industrial careers.
This is part of a national initiative encouraging more girls to choose STEM educations by making opportunities within the field more visible and relatable. This year, the company visit campaign saw 40 companies across Norway open their doors to nearly 900 girls, giving them an opportunity to meet women working in the field.
At Fiskaa, the programme showed how varied a career in technology can be. In the lab, Christine Frestad, introduced Elkem Microsilica® and demonstrated how it is used in refractory materials. The students also visited Elkem's carbon production facilities and the Elkem Recycling Centre (ERC), where we got to see recycled silicon being melted and cast.
At the IT & Digitalisation Centre, Yanzhu Yu, and Sienna Salinas, explained how Elkem is working with artificial intelligence and digital solutions to help people work smarter, solve problems and create value. The day ended with pizza and a Kahoot about women in STEM.
Lab demonstration of Elkem Microsilica®
For us, the visit was a reminder that being a trainee is not only about what we can learn from the people around us, but what we can share with those coming after us.
We are still early in our own careers, but perhaps that is exactly why we can be relatable role models for young people considering theirs.
Current Elkem trainees, including Sophia (middle) and Hedda (right).
About Hedda Haugedal
Hedda Haugedal is a Technical Trainee at Elkem with a background in chemical engineering from NTNU, specialising in materials science. During her studies, an internship at a FeSi plant in Iceland sparked her interest in the metallurgical industry. As part of Elkem’s trainee programme, she has worked across different areas of the company, first as part of the production team at Elkem Rana and currently with the Materials Innovation team at Fiskå, where she works with research on Elkem Microsilica®. Through these varied experiences, she has gained a broad perspective that she hopes to bring forward and use to contribute to future development within Elkem.
About Sophia Wellman
Sophia Wellman holds a master’s degree in Applied Physics and Mathematics from NTNU, where she specialised in materials physics after initially studying biophysics and medical technology. Her interest in materials science grew during a summer working in the laboratories at Elkem Fiskaa, which later led to a master’s thesis with Elkem focused on the characterisation of silicon powders. Through her studies and work with Elkem, Sophia has gained hands-on experience in laboratory work, material characterisation, and data analysis. She joined Elkem’s Technical Trainee Programme in August 2026, where she now applies her scientific background and curiosity to developing and validating analytical methods for Elkem’s plants.