From award-winning presentations to cutting-edge research and mentorship, Laura Arias Mendez is shaping the future of sustainable engineering on both national and European stages.
Laura Arias Mendez (PPRE Batch 2023–2025) from Venezuela recently showcased her talent at the national finals of the "Speak Out for Engineering" (SOfE) competition, hosted by the Verein für Deutsche Ingenieure (VDI). Among five of Germany’s most talented engineering students, she impressed the audience and judges alike with her award-winning presentation on recycling approaches for renewable energy technologies. Her clear understanding of sustainable engineering earned her second place and secured her a spot in the European finals in early 2025, where she will compete against top students from across the continent.
Beyond competitions, Laura is actively shaping her professional journey through the VDI WoMentorING program, an initiative supporting female engineers in developing their careers. The program pairs mentees with experienced mentors over a year-long exchange focused on professional development and networking. As part of this initiative, Laura will attend inspiring events such as FEMWORX at Hannover Messe, a congress highlighting female leadership in engineering and technology.
Laura is also engaged in academic research within the PPRE program. She is set to present two collaborative research papers at the upcoming BUIS conference:
“Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis of the criticality of raw materials in electric vehicle batteries” – co-authored with Silvia Alejandra Caballero Zafra, Diego Fernando Flórez Cortés, and Juan Sebastián Márquez Torres.
“Modelling of University of Oldenburg Haarentor Campus heating network using MTRESS” – with Rita Kastrati and Diego Fernando Flórez Cortés.