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Women featured in Hackster.io’s 2025 International Women’s Day roundup are building everything from robotic fashion and open-source robots to playful electronics and space education. It is a selection, not a complete directory, but the examples show how engineering and making can meet art, teaching, and community work in many different ways.
Open-source hardware and robotics
Several profiles focus on making technology more accessible through shared designs, robotics education, or community support.
Alex Glow: open-source projects and maker stories
Hackster.io describes Alex Glow as a maker and storyteller whose open-source circuit boards sit alongside projects such as the Archimedes owl and companion bots. Her interview series Hackster Café documented 200 episodes of maker journeys, according to the 2025 roundup.
Carlotta Berry: robotics for learners
Electrical and computer engineering professor Carlotta Berry is associated with Robotics for the Streets, an initiative offering free open-source hardware and software for mobile robotics education. The roundup also names three robots in her Flower∞Bots series: Lily∞bot, Daisy∞Bot, and Rosie∞Bot.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Professional Function Design】This 60w 110v pencil-type soldering iron features adjustable temperatures(392 ℉-842 ℉/200-450 ℃) and thermostatic setting. In addition, our soldering iron with ON/OFF Switch, which is easy to save energy and ensure safe welding.
- 【Heats Up Quickly & Heat Dissipation Efficiently 】Our soldering iron adopts the advanced ceramic heating core to heat up to reach the desired temperature within 15 secs. Four ventilation holes on the solder iron, reducing the temperature conducted from the tip to the handle.
- 【Must-Have Soldering Iron Kit】Kit Includes soldering iron, simple stand, conventional sponge, 5pcs interchangeable solder tips, fine 0.6mm solder wire, no-clean solder rosin flux paste. It has all the materials you need to get started.
- 【Wide Application】Widely used for welding circuit board, appliance repair, jewelry and metal headdress making, computer, and DIY. Perfect for beginners, welders, basic household equipment, welding engineer training, etc. Excellent Gifts for Fathers Day!
- 【Portable kit & Quality service 】Compared with soldering iron station, our soldering gun kit is portable to carry, just plug then use.
Kathy Giori: open-source IoT and mentoring
Hackster’s profile connects electrical engineer and technology leader Kathy Giori with Tricyrcycle, MicroBlocks, open-source IoT, and mentoring through TechWomen. Together, these examples span hands-on technology and support for people learning to build it.
Alicia Gibb and Katherine Scott: open hardware and robotics communities
Alicia Gibb is identified with the Open Source Hardware Association and the Blow Things Up (BTU) Lab at CU Boulder. Katherine Scott, a developer relations engineer associated with Intrinsic and Open Robotics, is also described as a board member of the Open Source Hardware Association. The roundup connects her work to computer vision, imaging, manufacturing, and open-source robotics.
Engineering through art, fashion, and music
These makers use engineering as a medium for expression, interaction, or performance rather than treating it as separate from creative work.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #2
- 【High Efficiency and Safety】The soldering iron has an on/off key for energy saving and safe soldering, it is a 110V 60W adjustable temperature electric soldering iron, which heats up faster. Six air vents extend the life of the soldering iron and effectively prevent the soldering iron from overheating.
- 【Temperature Adjustment】This soldering iron comes with an on/off switch, you can turn off the device at will when not in use, ensuring safe soldering and energy saving. The adjustable temperature range of 200 to 450°C allows you to get the job done under different conditions.
- 【Meet Your Any Needs】Different shapes of soldering iron tips can be easily used on guitars, watches, wires, mobile devices, computer hardware, small electronics, TV capacitors or accessories.
- 【Larger capacity】We have made corresponding adjustments according to the feedback of customers, and the capacity of solder wire and solder paste has been increased, so that you do not need to purchase additional
- 【Creative Design】The ergonomically designed handle and high temperature resistant silicone protective cover can protect your hands for long-term use of welding items and have a comfortable grip and anti-slip effect. At the same time, the use of insulating rubber materials improves the safety of the soldering iron.
Anouk Wipprecht: responsive fashion
Dutch fashion designer Anouk Wipprecht combines fashion, engineering, science, and interaction design. Hackster describes her Spider Dress as a garment with sensors and robotic arms that respond to the wearer’s breathing and to people nearby.
Kelly Heaton: circuits that make art and sound
Artist-engineer Kelly Heaton brings visual art together with electrical engineering. The article describes her “physical pixels” thesis work and analog circuits designed to reproduce birdsong.
Kitty Yeung: fashion technology and physics education
Kitty Yeung works across fashion technology and quantum-computing education. Hackster notes her doctorate in applied physics, previous work at Microsoft and Intel, and Art by Physicist.
Rank #3
- 1️⃣[Upgrade & Heat up Quickly]: This soldering iron adopts a premium ceramic core with 80w High Power, which heats up to operating temperatures in 10 seconds, and its heat output to hold at a constant temperature. The 110-120Volt digital soldering iron can be accurately adjusted to 180℃-480℃/ 356°F-896°F and switch between ℃ / °F.
- 2️⃣ [Automatic Sleeping & Temperature Memory]: In power on state, If the smart soldering iron is placed on the stand for 5 minutes, it will auto decrease temperature to extend heating core lifetimes (LCD displays "OFF"). Holding the soldering iron handle will restore the heating. If you turn off the solder iron at 356°F, when you turn it on next time, it will auto heat up to 356°F.
- 3️⃣[Clear Digital Display & Anti-scalding Handle]: A high-definition LCD screen display, which indicates the temperature status more clearly, so you don't worry about finding the right temperature and you can really tell how hot it is and accurately control the heat. Heat-resistant handles can insulate temperature effectively to get a long cool handle.
- 4️⃣[Use-Friendly & Widely Use]: Compared with soldering iron station, this lightweight soldering kit for electronics is portable, easy to use or carry, just plug and play. You can widely use this solder kit for welding circuit boards, home DIY soldering, jewelry welding, appliance and electronics repairs etc.
- 5️⃣[Design & 100% After-sales]: This lcd soldering iron was designed in Chicago, USA. We have a strict quality management system, Liouhoum soldering iron kit is put onto the market after testing. 💯We offer an 24-month replacement service if it stops working. Please feel free to contact us if there is any issue when you receive or use our products and we will get back to you within 12 hours.
Helen Leigh: a glove that makes music
Maker and musician Helen Leigh created the MINI.MU glove, a wearable instrument intended to help children learn electronics and music. The roundup also names her book The Crafty Kid’s Guide to DIY Electronics and notes her continued work developing DIY musical instruments.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Claire Danielle Cassidy: wearable light and open hardware
Creative technologist Claire Danielle Cassidy works with LEDs, laser-cut jewelry, and open-hardware initiatives. Hackster describes her U Glow initiative at Oregon’s SOAK gathering.
Teaching through making
Some of the featured work is designed specifically to help people learn by building, whether through playful circuits, maker spaces, or books.
Rank #4
- Fast Heating & Adjustable Temperature - This digital soldering station heats up fast and has a wider temperature range (194℉~896) to choose from. The soldering iron can stay at the set temperature consistently with its PID temperature stabilization. This product conforms to the UL Standard (U.S.), [an Important Evaluation for Electric Appliances Safety].
- Space Saving – This compact soldering station helps save precious work space with an integrated soldering iron holder to provider greater space saving. The metallic protective mesh at the rear of the station prevents accidental contact with the soldering iron, and the mesh comes with soldering tip storage slots.
- Functions & Features – includes easy °C to °F conversion, Sleep Mode (5/10/30 mins adjustable), and Digital Temperature Calibration. All functions and temperature read-outs are displayed via a digital display, and accessed via a master control knob. The station enters sleep mode when non-use is detected for longer than the set duration to reduce unnecessary wear for the soldering tip and heating element.
- 12-IN-1 – This soldering iron kit includes the YIHUA 926 III Soldering Station, 2 Helping Hands, 6 Soldering Tips(YIHUA #1200/900M Series), Roll of Lead-free Solder Wire (35g), Solder Sucker, ESD Safe Tweezers, Solder Wire Dispenser, Cleaning Sponge.
- Choose YIHUA with Confidence – Enjoy our 12-month US- exclusive manufacturer technical coverage and 24/7 professional assistance on Amazon. Note: This model is designed to operate on 110-127V with a US-standard power plug.
AnnMarie Thomas: electronics made from dough
Mechanical engineer AnnMarie Thomas founded the Playful Learning Lab at the University of St. Thomas. Her Squishy Circuits approach uses conductive and insulating dough to teach electronics. Hackster also points readers to her book Making Makers: Kids, Tools, and the Future of Innovation.
Jen Fox: project-based electronics
Engineer and educator Jen Fox works on arts-based STEM programs and maker spaces. Her book Beginning Breadboarding introduces electronics through projects.
Joan Horvath: engineering and 3D printing
Aeronautical engineer Joan Horvath worked for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for 16 years, according to Hackster, before co-founding Nonscriptum, which focuses on 3D printing and maker technologies. The roundup also points to her books on calculus, trigonometry, and geometry.
Best Value
- 【Upgrade Technology】The soldering iron is upgraded 80W High Power, and can make the soldering iron quickly heat up within 20 seconds; This soldering iron can accurately adjust the temperature and a flexible temperature range of 180℃-480℃/ 356°F-896°F.
- 【Clear Digital Display】A high-definition LCD screen display, which indicates the temperature status more clearly, so you don’t need to worry about finding the right temperature for each welding job.
- 【Efficient Heat Dissipation and Anti-scalding Handle】The four ventilation holes on the solder tip provide better heat dissipation than others. Heat-resistant handle can insulate temperature effectively and is more suitable for long-term welding and repair work.
- 【Wide Application】widely used for welding circuit board, appliance repair, jewelry and metal headdress making, computer, and DIY. Very suitable for beginners, welders, basic household equipment, welding engineer training, etc.
- 【Must-have Soldering Iron Kit】Kit Includes soldering iron, tips,simple soldering iron stand, conventional sponge,solder wire,flux paste . A good basic soldering iron set that has all the materials you need to get started.
Devices, space, and public engagement
Christina Cyr: building phones with others
Hackster credits Christina Cyr with inventing the Cyrcle Phone and says it received a CES 2023 Innovation Award. The article also reports that she taught more than 200 people to build phones in workshops and at events, and describes her work designing PCBs and wireless devices.
Katya Echazarreta: engineering and space advocacy
Electrical engineer Katya Echazarreta, identified by Hackster as a citizen astronaut from Mexico, worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and flew on Blue Origin in 2022. The roundup describes her subsequent science-education and advocacy initiatives.
Where to start exploring
The examples offer several different paths into engineering and making, depending on what interests you:
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →- Try a learning project: Squishy Circuits introduces basic electronics with conductive and insulating dough; MINI.MU connects wearable electronics with music.
- Explore creative technology: The Spider Dress, Kelly Heaton’s circuit-based work, and Cassidy’s LED and laser-cut projects show ways electronics can become part of art or design.
- Look at open-source robotics: Robotics for the Streets and the Flower∞Bots series illustrate educational and community-facing approaches to building robots.
- Follow a subject in more depth: The roundup names books by Helen Leigh, AnnMarie Thomas, Joan Horvath, and Jen Fox for readers interested in DIY electronics, making, or technical learning.
These profiles are examples rather than a ranking, and the work does not follow one shared career path. They range from individual projects to education programs and community initiatives.
Hackster.io’s article, “Meet the Women of Our Engineering and Maker World,” by Cabe Atwell, was framed around International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025. Read the roundup on Hackster.io.
Quick Recap
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