The underrepresentation of women in the academic and professional fields of engineering is still an issue to address in our society. However, in the past years, a high number of institutions and programs such as the Society of Women Engineers, the IEEE Women in Engineering or the Committee on Women in Engineering (WIE) have been created to call attention to this problem and join forces to overcome it.
Brought to us by the Women’s Engineering Society, the International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is a yearly campaign that aims to give visibility and celebrate the work of women engineers around the world. An initiative in line with the organization’s goal of supporting women in engineering to fulfill their potential, and supporting the engineering industry to be inclusive.
The topic this year was Women Who Make Safety Seen and its aim was to profile those women in engineering and its contribution to safety and security, either by making working environments safer, or protecting their peers, colleagues, and wider society.
Meet EELISA’s Women Who Make Safety Seen and get to know more about them and their projects!
Dr. Monika Reif, Co-Head of the Safety Critical Systems Research Lab at ZHAW School of Engineering
“As Co-Head of the Safety Critical Systems Research Lab, I am passionate about leveraging safety to create a better world. We analyse and develop systems with a focus on safety in critical domains. Through dynamic collaborations and innovative research, we empower students in safety and systems engineering and activate their potential to create a safer future. Together with industrial partners, we foster innovative ideas where safety is a driving force behind every project.”
“As the vice-dean for education of the Faculty of Architecture (TUB) I place special emphasis of the safety of the university community. My goal is to move forward a university atmosphere which provides a supportive environment not only for the Hungarian and foreign student but also for our colleagues. We ensure equal rights and opportunities for the students, so they can learn and research at high efficiency, and everyone has the opportunity for self-actualization. Stating clear rules can help everyone to feel safe and avoid stress.
I teach architects. After graduation they will design residential buildings, public buildings, and industrial buildings, some of them will be urban designer or they will act in other fields of the constructional industry. I am trying to prepare my students to become responsible actors in society. As an architect, they must integrate complex interactions among economic, technological, social, and cultural factors in order to create a safer society. So, the world will be a better and definitely safer place by my students.”
Dr. Anikó Pluzsik, Associate Professor, Vice-Dean for Education of the Faculty of Architecture at Budapest University of Technology and Economics
Prof. Dr. Asunción Gómez-Pérez, Vicerrector of Research, Innovation and Doctoral Studies at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
“As Vicerrector of Research, Innovation and Doctoral studies and full professor in artificial intelligence, I emphasize how digital technologies contribute to create a better world if they respect and protect fundamental rights, security, privacy, and the environment. We ensure that research and innovation projects and also Ph.D. thesis follow the General Data Protection Regulation. We are also designing some seminars to ensure that those researchers and students that research, design, develop and use artificial intelligence in their systems in a variety of sectors know the European Law on artificial intelligence. Knowing the rules, safer and trustworthy AI systems can be developed.”
“As an Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at ITU, specializing in water and air treatment technologies, I am truly inspired by the opportunity to contribute to the safety of society through my work. My passion lies in educating students about the critical importance of pollution control and treatment technologies. By instilling in them a deep understanding of the risks associated with pollution and the significance of implementing effective treatment measures, I empower the next generation of engineers to prioritize safety and environmental preservation in their future endeavors.”
Dr. Nil Özbek, Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department at Istanbul Technical University
Assoc. Prof. Emine Görgül, School of Architecture, Vice-Director of WSC-Women’s Studies Center at Istanbul Technical University
“As the vice director of ITU WSC-Women’s Studies Center and a faculty of the ITU School of Architecture, I resonate with the notion of safety by providing a holistic aspect in maintaining its tangible and intangible scopes in the fields I am teaching and working.
From a more comprehensive manner, the notion of safety encompasses not only the safety of the built environment that we as architects and the architects of the future are responsible for by building durable structures that resist earthquake threats and many other natural hazards by providing a shelter but also maintaining the wellbeing of the users via providing the ultimate comfort physically and psychologically with the pleasing environments and atmospheres.
Besides, the safety in engineering the built environment moves beyond the physical infrastructure quality to the intangible social infrastructure quality, where architects, engineers, urban planners, landscape architects, and interior architects all collaborate to construct better living environments where societal needs are fulfilled, fragile groups like women, children, refugees, natural-hazard survivors are protected, and the wellbeing of the community is maintained. Thus, I teach my students the notion of safety from every aspect and enable them to explore and internalize the wisdom of being caregivers and designers of the safer societies of the future.”
“As a full professor, I dedicated my research activity to photonics technologies for optical communication and sensing, with special focus on microwave photonics for security, space, and environment monitoring.
I had the chance to coordinate more that 60 National, European and industrial projects and devoted with the aim of improving and miniaturizing photonics technologies to provide more secure and faster connectivity and advanced radars reducing the energy cost and using sustainable materials.
I believe that photonics enable more efficient connectivity and sensors the basis for the future 6G and 4.0 Industry paradigms that will drive the technological development in the next decade.
These two technological revolutions will improve our society enabling applications that were only in our dreams up to few years ago, the most of them based on virtual reality. Remote surgery, remote control of dangerous industrial machinery, more efficient prevention and management of natural disaster are few examples where these technologies can contribute to our life.”
Prof. Antonella Bogoni, Founder and Leader of the “Digital & Microwave Photonics” Laboratory, and Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, and Photonics Institute (TeCIP) at Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna
Dr. Sofia Costa D’Aguiar, EELISA Executive Director, Civil Engieer with a PhD in Geotech and Environmental Engineering and nominated Women of the Industry, Research and Development by L’Usine Nouvelle
“My commitment to make an impact in global scientific and technological contexts has led me towards team-management in innovative transversal initiatives. I have learned the essential role of team work from concept to implementation through the whole cycle of research and innovation projects at a multicultural level, and I think that promoting values within the workplace such as diversity, integrity and creativity, as well as the creation of a shared vision within the project, are key aspects to ensure a safe environment and therefore set the basis to start implementing transformative and impactful measures to address current challenges.
In addition, in line with EELISA’s mission, I firmly believe that through education we can act both on individual and collective awareness, which will contribute to our society’s safety and well-being in the long term.”