ACM Scholar Spotlights: Miriana Calvano
Welcome to ACM Scholar Spotlights, a series where we shine a light on the inspiring paths of women in computing who received the 2024 ACM-W scholarship. Through their own words, we hear how they found their place in tech, what motivates them, and how they’re making an impact. These stories reflect not only technical achievement, but also courage, curiosity, and community.
In this edition, we feature Miriana Calvano, a young researcher from Italy whose curiosity about technology and passion for Human-Computer Interaction are guiding their journey toward becoming a university professor and advancing ethical, inclusive research in AI.
Introduction
My name is Miriana Calvano. I am currently a first-year PhD student in Computer Science at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in Italy. I chose this career due to my curiosity in understanding how the technology that we use in our everyday life works. I decided to further specialize my studies in Human-Computer Interaction since I didn’t want to focus only on technicisms but also on the users’ side.
At the beginning of this journey, I was not confident about my skills and was unsure about continuing my career in university and, specifically, in computer science. Nevertheless, despite my initial fears and doubts, the years of my bachelor’s and master’s degree offered me moments of satisfaction, raising my willingness to stay in the university and pursue my dream of becoming a university professor.
During the academic course of Human-Computer Interaction, I discovered the design side of technology in addition to coding. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment, but I started to love this subject so much that I directed my future studies in this field. As time went on, I learned to believe more in myself and my abilities. I began to develop skills both in coding and in designing user interfaces.
Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Tech
I think that one of the most significant challenges that women face in the technology field is gender bias, which often manifests in stereotypes. These can be related to assumptions about women’s willingness to have children in the future or doubts about their skills. This can lead to a lack of confidence both within women themselves and among their peers.
Despite these challenges, there are also significant opportunities for women. The growing spread of technology has created a demand for tech and multidisciplinary skills. Therefore, I encourage women who want to start a career in the technology field to always believe in themselves and their abilities. Everyone has their own talents, and the IT sector is so vast that it can accommodate a wide range of skills and interests.
Research and Current Work
Currently, I am involved in the Future AI Research (FAIR) project. My focus is on defining metrics to evaluate the emerging human-AI symbiotic relationship.
Although I am at the beginning of this journey, there have been many moments of doubt and discouragement. During the first months, I felt I was not doing enough and was unable to take a well-defined direction in my research project. It was not easy to overcome these moments, but by continuing to study and explore the field, and with the help of my colleagues and supervisors, I was able to go deeper into the domain and understand how to proceed.
My womENcourage 2024 Experience
womENcourage 2024 was the first conference I participated in. I really enjoyed the poster session and the speeches by company representatives, as they gave me a broader view of the current landscape. I consider womENcourage to be an important event for expanding the network of female contacts. It is inspiring to meet women who have succeeded in industry and academia despite many difficulties. From this, I learned that you should never give up and continue to believe in your dreams.
This event also made me reflect on the importance of creating new technologies that are ethical and inclusive. To women who intend to participate in womENcourage next year, I suggest enjoying the event as much as possible and expanding their contacts. A brief conversation could lead to interesting collaborations and future developments.