On Sunday 10 December, a theatre, music and dance performance brought to the forefront the technical innovations that have marked the city, illustrated by the biographies of outstanding personalities, especially women in science and higher education at the Polytechnic University of Timisoara.

Organized by the Polytechnic University of Timișoara, through Spotlight Heritage Timișoara, the event is the 11th cultural production and the last performance of the year 2023 in the series brought to the public by the Spotlight Heritage Timișoara project, as part of the national cultural programme "Timișoara - European Capital of Culture in 2023".

The show brought together over 150 people, who witnessed the discovery of a piece of history through bibliographies of remarkable personalities, women in the field of science and higher education at the Polytechnic University of Timisoara.

"I was deeply impressed by the impact of tonight's show. This remarkable event succeeded not only in highlighting the extraordinary contributions of women from Timisoara's past and present, but also in masterfully blending art, technology and history in a way that captured our imagination. It was an honour to see how this production brought to the forefront the innovative story of our city and the essential contribution of women in shaping our shared future." conf. Dr. Ing. Florin Drăgan, Rector of Politehnica University of Timisoara.

Accompanied by Maria (a 12th grade student), who was the character and the guide of this performance, those present travelled back in time, from the foundation of the Polytechnic by royal decree to the present day, to get to know female excellence in various guises, archetypal embodiments of professional and human values - curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, perseverance, hard work, initiative, devotion, generosity, empathy, spirit of sacrifice. Through monologues, but also with the help of digital technology, Maria meets exceptional personalities from the history of Polytechnics - women who combine outstanding achievements in the area of research and innovation, pioneers in the founding and consolidation of new academic specialisations and research facilities, teaching and mentoring activity and as wives and mothers. 

A performative, documentary happening about the female universe of Politehnica Timisoara, a courageous pioneering approach, an impactful female afterimage that brings into the collective spotlight powerful female personalities through their enormous contribution to the fields of research, mechanics, biochemistry, electro-technics, medicine, sport, robotics, VR and e-learning, and the need to draw attention to changing perspectives on a strand of history that will have many blank pages left unwritten. A still completely unwritten page of history waiting to be written. A candid tribute to Filofteia Dobrescu, Viorica Anton, Delia Perju, Coleta de Sabata, Doina Drăgulescu, Monica Petrea Izvercian, Carmen Grecea, Camelia Macoviciuc, Lăcrămioara Stoicu Tivadar, Ioana Ionel, Alina Dumitrel, Diana Andone and all the past, present and future students of the Polytechnic University of Timisoara, watching to see if she will join the Maria of today's student-leaders.

 As a true interdisciplinary collaboration between art, technology and history, the show "Heritage in the Spotlight - Women of the Future" highlighted not only the technological evolution of the city, but also the invaluable contribution of women in the formation and development of this field.

"Beyond its artistic splendor, the show was a concrete effort to bring to light the fascinating and often overlooked stories of women who have contributed to the technological and cultural evolution of Timisoara. This remarkable production pays well-deserved homage to the past while honoring the impact of the present and encouraging female students to follow in their footsteps." said Dr Dianei Andone, Director of the Department of DI/IFR and Digital Education.

Through this artistic production, the Polytechnic University of Timișoara offers the public not only a performance, but a unique experience, an echo that transcends time and brings deserved honour to Timișoara's cultural and technological heritage, but also to the heritage of women and the role they have played in defining and shaping the past and the future.

The show has been recorded and will be broadcast by TVR Timisoara and will also be available on the website  https://spotlight-timisoara.eu/  and through mobile apps that can be downloaded from Android and Apple stores by searching for "Spotlight Timisoara".

• App link for Android users: https://is.gd/SjiIgv 
• App link for iOS users: https://is.gd/y6JxeV 

Find out more about the show here:

The event is part of the Spotlight Heritage Timisoara digital cultural initiative, part of the Cultural Programme Timisoara 2023 European Capital of Culture and is co-funded by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Centre.