ACM-W Europe December 2024 Newsletter

In this issue:

 

End of Year’s Message from ACM-W Europe Chair

Welcome to the December edition of the ACM-W Europe Newsletter. As 2024 ends, let us take a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve shared this year.

In 2024, the ACM Women network welcomed three new chapters in our ACM region, and we had a new collaboration as part of the ACM-W Buddy System scheme. 

Furthermore, 2024 was a year of fantastic events that inspired women in computing from all around the world. ACM-W Global Chapters’ Summit, our flagship event, the ACM Celebration of Women in Computing: womENcourage, and the 2nd ACM Celebration of Women in Computing in Africa: Africa CWIC 2024.

Moreover, in 2024 ACM-W chapters in Europe hosted six full-day events. These fantastic conferences provided many of our members opportunities to network, learn and celebrate, as well as help them build communities and break down feelings of isolation.

Last but not least, in 2024 ACM-W Europe started the ACM-WE Wikipedia Working Group.

As we step into 2025, we want to thank all members of our community who contributed to our journey this year. In particular, we thank the ACM-W Europe Executive Committee, womENcourage and Africa CWIC Organising Committees, organisers of local ACM-W Celebrations and events, chapter officers, working group members and all other volunteers. The success of ACM-W Europe would not be possible without your dedication and efforts. Whatever 2025 brings, we hope to support you and celebrate with you as you reach your professional and personal goals. 

Read the entire message from Dorota Filipczuk here.

 

ACM – W Celebrations of Women in Computing

womENcourageTM

The next edition will take place on 17 – 19 September in Brasov, Romania. Keep an eye on the website for details of the next edition.

 

 

ACM-W Celebration Day (KUCWİC) by Koç University ACM-W Student Chapter

On December 14-15, Koç University ACM-W Student Chapter held their first ACM-W Celebration Day (KUCWİC) successfully. The event began with an online speech from ACM-W Europe Chair, Dorota  Filipczuk, she talked about ACM-W, its goals and its commitment to gender equality in tech.

During the event, they welcomed leading companies such as Akbank, Turkish Technology, and Cyberwise. Therefore, participants had a valuable opportunity to hear firsthand about real-world experiences and challenges in the tech industry.

As part of the event, they tried to meet the academia with participants. Professor Fatma Güney and her graduate students team, shared insights on the differences between working in academia and the industry.  ACM Distinguished Speaker Daron Yöndem gave an engaging talk titled “Meet My AI Sidekick,” focusing on artificial intelligence. Additionally, Professor Dr. Mehmet Gönen spoke about using machine learning models to understand cancer biology, providing valuable knowledge.

The celebration concluded with a fun hackathon where participants enjoyed themselves and won various prizes. During the event they had coffee breaks which offered excellent networking opportunities, helping attendees connect and learn from each other.

This event brought together academic and corporate worlds; created a great opportunity for sharing knowledge and working together. This celebration not only provided education but also highlighted our commitment to promoting gender equality in technology. We look forward to hosting more events that inspire and bring our tech community together.

 

 

ACM-W Rising Star Award 2024-25: Nominations open!

With the ACM-W Rising Star Award, ACM-W recognizes women whose early-career research has made a significant impact in the field of computing. The award is a tribute to early-career women making waves in computing and contributing to a more inclusive and supportive community.

Important Dates:

  • Nominations open: October 20, 2024
  • Nominations close: January 17, 2025
  • Reference letters deadline: January 31, 2025
  • Award announcement: March 14, 2025

Eligibility:

  • Must be an ACM Member at the time of nomination.
  • Within 10 years of receiving her terminal degree.
  • Open to women and non-binary individuals in computing.
  • Previous award recipients or those who have received similar recognition are ineligible.

For more details and to apply, visit the ACM-W website.

For past awardees, visit ACM-W Awards.

 

In Memory of Barbora Buhnova

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Barbora Buhnova, a valued member of our community. Her contributions to advancing women in computing have inspired us all, and her dedication will always be remembered.

Bara Buhnova was an Associate Professor and Vice-Dean at Masaryk University (MU), Faculty of Informatics (FI MU) in Brno. She co-founded Czechitas, a non-profit organisation aiming at making IT skills more accessible to youth and women, touching the lives of more than 30,000+ people. She was a member of multiple initiatives engaging more women in tech, including the Informatics Europe working group Women in Informatics Research and Education (WIRE), EUGAIN: European Network for Gender Balance in Informatics) reaching across the entire Europe. In September 2021, she served as the general chair of the 8th ACM Celebration of Women in Computing (womENcourage 2021), uniting women from interdisciplinary communities under the theme “Bridging communities to foster innovation.”

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Barbora’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside her. She will be dearly missed but fondly remembered for her exceptional work and lasting impact.

Blog – My Journey in Tech By Zeynep Inkaya

This month we have a blog from Zeynep, a past participant at womENcourage event, who is sharing her journey in technology. She has a BSc in Computer Science from Hacettepe University and is currently pursuing an MSc in the same field. 

She shared with us details about her education and interests, how she overcame challenges throughout her journey and talked about the experience at womENcourage. See the entire article on our blog.

 

Announcements

ACM Awards and Advanced Grades of Membership Deadlines

Each year ACM recognizes outstanding achievements of its members through awards that cover a spectrum of professional and technological areas and different stages of professional development. 

To learn more about awards, we recommend the article by the ACM President Cherri M. Pancake, who dispels some common myths about ACM Awards and Honors in the Communications of the ACM, August 2019. One of the myths is that the ACM Awards never honour people working outside North America. Prof. Pancake writes that even though nothing would make ACM committees happier than to recognise the achievements of people from around the globe, there are very few nominations. Source: Dispelling Common Myths About ACM Awards and Honors.

Call for ACM Senior Member Nominations

The Senior Member advanced grade of membership recognizes ACM members with at least 10 years of professional experience and 5 years of continuous ACM Professional membership. Nominations are accepted on a quarterly basis. The next deadline for nominations is September 3, 2023.

Students
Early Career
Mid Career
Late Career
Area-Specific, typically Mid to Late Career

For SIG-specific Awards, please visit here.

For ACM Advanced Grades of Membership, please visit here.

 

Thank you for joining us in recognizing the accomplishments of ACM Women in Europe and ensuring they are nominated for ACM Awards they deserve.

 

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