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The use of ultra-wide band (UWB) radio technique is proposed as a viable solution for the distribution of highdefinition audio/video content in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks. The approach suitability is demonstrated by the transmission of standards-based UWB signals at 1.25 Gbit/s along different FTTH fiber links with 25 km up to 60 km of standard single-mode fiber length in a laboratory experiment. Experimental results suggest that orthogonal frequency division multiplexed UWB signals exhibit better transmission performance in FFTH networks than impulse radio UWB signals. Index Terms-Optical communications, Fiber-To-The-Home access networks, Ultra-Wide Band (UWB). I. INTRODUCTION ltra-Wide Band (UWB) has been indicated as one of the most promising techniques to be used in wireless communication networks. The growing interest in this technique is due to its low self-interference, tolerance to multipath fading, low probability of interception and capability of passing through walls while maintaining the communication [1]. Nowadays, UWB is appointed for high bit-rate wireless communications at picocell range, namely as a replacement of high definition (HD) video/audio cabling [2]. This paper proposes to extend this application to the distribution of HD audio/video content by the optical modulation and transmission of UWB signals in their native format through fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) access networks. This approach exhibits several advantages: (i) FTTH networks provide bandwidth enough to distribute a large number of UWB signals, as each one of them can occupy up to 7 GHz in current UWB regulation [3]. (ii) No trans-modulation is required at user premises. HD audio/video content is transmitted through the fibers in UWB native format. (iii) No frequency up-conversion is required at customer premises. The UWB signals are photo-detected, filtered, amplified and radiated directly to establish the wireless connection. (iv) FTTH networks are transparent to the specific UWB implementation Manuscript received 6th December 2007.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are key disciplines towards tackling the challenges related to the Sustainable Development Goals. However, evidence shows that women are enrolling in these disciplines in a smaller percentage than men, especially in Engineering related fields. As stated by the United Nations Women section, increasing the number of women studying and working in STEM fields is fundamental towards achieving better solutions to the global challenges, since the potential for innovation is larger. In this paper, we present the Girls4STEM project, which started in 2019 at the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria de la Universitat de València, Spain. This project works towards breaking the stereotypes linked to STEM fields, addressing both boys and girls aged from 6 to 18, but especially trying to open the range of career options for young girls through interaction with female STEM experts. The goal is to spark girls’ interest in STEM disciplines from childhood, so that they become more self-confident in these areas. To achieve this goal, the project is built over three main actions: the Girls4STEM Family Talks, where students, families, and teachers participate; the Girls4STEM Professional Talks, where the target is a general audience; and the Initial Training Seminars for teachers. Short-term results are here presented, showing that aspects related to self-perception and perception from others (family, teachers) play a significant role. Moreover, these results also indicate that there may not be a general understanding of which disciplines are included in STEM.

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