From Curiosity to Creation – Mizero

What does innovation look like?

Sometimes, it looks like designing something on a computer, walking into a machine shop—and being willing to try four times before getting it right.

We are delighted to celebrate Mizero Ines Kevine Ineza, a 2022 TechGirls alumna, whose continued journey in STEM demonstrates the curiosity, persistence, and willingness to learn that are at the heart of innovation.

This summer, Ines worked as a Research Assistant in the Physics Department at Middlebury College, where she helped design a Linear Paul Ion Trap from the ground up. Her work took her from physics-based requirements and CAD assemblies in Autodesk Fusion 360 to hands-on manufacturing—learning to operate a CNC mill, machine aluminum, and test designs before final fabrication.

And it didn’t all work the first time.

Ines describes four attempts at machining one component. The first ended with a broken tool. Another went straight through the piece. Instead of seeing those attempts simply as failures, she used each one to understand what had gone wrong and improve the next design.

That may be our favorite part of her story.

Innovation requires technical knowledge, but it also requires curiosity, persistence, problem-solving, and the confidence to keep experimenting when the first solution doesn’t work.

Four years after participating in TechGirls, Ines continues to explore, build, learn, and challenge herself in STEM.

We are proud to count her among the innovative leaders in the global Exchange alumni community—and we can’t wait to see what she builds next.