ACM Scholar Spotlights: Ingenito Mafalda
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 spotlight Ingenito Mafalda, a dedicated research fellow at the University of Salerno whose passion for computer science, commitment to gender equality, and impactful work in human-computer interaction and AI are driving meaningful change in the STEM community.
Introduction
My name is Ingenito Mafalda and I am a research fellow at the Department of Computer Science of the University of Salerno, where I previously completed both a bachelor’s and a master’s in Computer Science. I always knew that this was my path. When I was little I wanted to be a STEM girl, I was completely fascinated by this world, especially by computer science, its progress, and how it manages to solve even the most complex problems. During my university studies, I became interested in different subjects and delved into others, such as human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence. I began to love research and found it stimulating to explore new ideas and contribute to their development.
Pursuing Research and Finding My Voice in STEM
My motivation grows every day thanks to the knowledge that my work could have a significant impact, also thanks to the collaboration with my colleagues. I am currently working on several projects related to eye tracking, social robots, and LLM, in different social contexts and with various target users. Also, my determination and love for computer science pushed me to fight and make my way in an environment that, at the beginning of my studies, was mainly dominated by men and where it was sometimes difficult to make my voice heard.
I was therefore pleased to promote activities that would facilitate closer engagement of girls with computing and to participate in events that would allow me to share knowledge and experience with other STEM women. The opportunity to attend the womENcourage Conference was one such occasion, which I was able to take up at the suggestion of my professor and researcher. Furthermore, this was my inaugural experience of presenting a poster, and to do so on a topic that is of great personal significance to me, namely gender equality, was an invaluable learning opportunity.
This, however, was not the sole highlight of womENcourage. It constituted an essential exchange and networking moment, as well as a time for discussion and insights, thanks to the keynotes and workshops. I had the opportunity to hear the narratives of other women, to grasp their determination and strength, and to be completely fascinated by their knowledge and their desire to disseminate it. I hope that I will have the opportunity to participate again next year, and I extend the same wish to other women in STEM, whether they are attending for the first time or a second, third, or subsequent occasion. I hope that each attendee will experience the event as if it were their inaugural experience.
I would like to extend my gratitude to all the women present at womENcourage, from the organizers to the volunteers, participants, and so on. Their contributions have helped me to recognize that it is not acceptable to feel inadequate or incapable, that each of us can make a positive impact in the world, and that by working together we can achieve great things and advance the field of STEM.