ACM-W Europe November 2025 Newsletter

In this issue:

 

 

ACM Luiz André Barroso Award – Nominations Open

The ACM Luiz André Barroso Award honors exceptional computer scientists from historically underrepresented communities who have made fundamental contributions to the field. The prestigious award includes a $40,000 cash prize, a $10,000 charitable donation, and the opportunity to deliver an invited talk at a major ACM conference.

Nomination Deadline: December 15, 2025

Who Should Be Nominated: Researchers from underrepresented communities demonstrating sustained contributions through deployed systems, research, publications, or leadership, plus a commitment to making tech more inclusive.

How to Nominate: Submit nominations at the ACM awards portal, including a 200-500 word statement, candidate CV, and 3-5 endorsement letters.

Named in honor of Brazilian computer scientist Luiz André Barroso, this award reflects his legacy as a champion of diversity and equal opportunity in technology. Financial support provided by Google.

Questions? Contact acm-awards@acm.org

 

Announcement from womENcourage™ team 2026

ACM womENcourage™ 2026 will take place in Nice, on the French Riviera, France, hosted by Polytech’Nice Sophia, IUT Nice Côte d’Azur, Laboratoire I3S and Université Côte d’Azur.

Under the theme “Unmute Yourself, Grow Stronger Together”, this celebration of women in computing focuses on well-being and support for women and gender diverse people in all areas of computing. We will explore how computing can become a powerful enabler of well-being through evidence-based tools, inclusive socio-technical systems, and organisational practices that sustain healthy and creative work. womENcourage 2026 will bring together students, researchers, and professionals to listen to their inner voice, share experiences, and co-create healthier futures in computing against the backdrop of the Mediterranean coast.

Wellbeing, Connection, and Inspiration: Our Journey to womENcourage™ 2026 Has Begun

The womENcourage™ Steering Committee is thrilled to share updates from our recent site visit to Nice, France—the stunning French Riviera city that will host the ACM Celebration of Women in Computing: womENcourage™ 2026.

What is a Site Visit?

A site visit is a crucial planning milestone where organizing teams come together to evaluate the venue, coordinate logistics, and align on the vision for the event. More than just checking boxes, it’s an opportunity to experience the space where our community will gather, ensure accessibility and flow, and build the collaborative relationships that make womENcourage™ such a meaningful celebration.

Our Experience in Nice

General Chairs Karima Boudaoud and Antinisca Di Marco welcomed us with a comprehensive tour of the venue, showcasing the rooms and gathering spaces where the energy of womENcourage™ 2026 will come to life. Every corner offered beautiful possibilities—so much so that choosing a location for the group photo became a delightful challenge!

We addressed essential logistics: wayfinding maps, signage, walking distances between buildings, and accessibility considerations. These practical details ensure that attendees can focus on what matters most—connection, learning, and inspiration.

Building Community and Vision

In a collaborative kickoff session with both the womENcourage™ ACM-W Europe Steering Committee and the local Organizing Committee, we shared our mission and vision, exchanged updates on ACM-W Europe projects and chapter opportunities, and explored ways to sustain local celebrations beyond the main event. The discussions sparked wonderful ideas and reinforced the collaborative spirit that defines our community.

“Unmute Yourself, Grow Stronger Together”

The theme for womENcourage™ 2026 resonates deeply with our commitment to wellbeing and growth within the ACM-W Europe community. As women and gender-diverse people remain underrepresented in computing, fostering wellbeing and building reliable support systems is essential.

During the visit, we reflected on our own collaboration practices—how we communicate, meet, stay organized, and support one another as volunteers. It was a warm reminder that ACM-W Europe is built on kindness, respect, awareness, and teamwork.

We also reviewed our “Lessons Learned” guidebook, drawing on insights from past celebrations to make womENcourage™ 2026 even better. The open and honest conversations enriched our planning with diverse perspectives from across the organizing teams.

 

Looking Ahead

This site visit energized us for what’s to come. Being together reminded us why this celebration matters: it’s about community, inspiration, and opening doors for women in computing.

Save the date: September 30, 2026 marks the official start of womENcourage™ 2026.

Stay tuned for upcoming calls for workshops, posters, and scholarships. Your ideas, your spirit, and your presence make all the difference. We can’t wait to welcome you to Nice!

 

Dorota Filipczuk – ACM-W Europe Chair

Alexandra Dediu – ACM-W Europe Vice Chair

Anca Vasilescu – ACM-W Europe Steering Committee Member

Rukiye Altin – ACM-W Global Chair

 

 

Blog series – ACM Scholar Spotlights:

Welcome to ACM Scholar Spotlights, a series where we shine a light on the inspiring paths of students in computing who received the 2025 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.

Naomi Pitzer, a Computer Science graduate from the University of Southampton whose passions span machine learning, multi-agent communication, and robotic perception. From founding a community for women and non-binary students to finding inspiration at her first womENcourage, Naomi shares how her academic journey, research, and personal reflections on AI and human behaviour continue to shape her path in technology..

Abha Desai, a third-year Computer Science student at the University of Southampton whose journey began with building her first app in school. From discovering her passion for technology to attending her first womENcourage conference, Abha reflects on the mentors who guided her, the experiences that shaped her, and the resilience she gained through coding and community.

Ambre Journot, a Master’s student in Computer Science at Université Côte d’Azur, whose unconventional path into tech led her to discover a passion for cybersecurity. From finding her place in computing to presenting her research and stepping outside her comfort zone at womENcourage 2025, Ambre shares a story of growth, community, and newfound confidence.

 

 

Empowering Women in Computing: Apply for ACM-W Scholarships

Are you a woman pursuing your passion in computing? ACM-W (Association for Computing Machinery’s Council on Women in Computing) is dedicated to supporting, celebrating, and advocating for women in the field. They offer scholarships designed to help break down financial barriers and enable talented women to achieve their academic and professional goals in technology. Whether you’re an undergraduate, graduate student, or early-career professional, ACM-W provides resources and funding opportunities to help you succeed in the dynamic world of computing. Don’t miss this chance to join a global community committed to advancing women’s participation and leadership in technology.

Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines

Conference Dates Deadline Notification By
Apr 1 – May 31 Feb 15 Feb 28
June 1 – July 31 Apr 15 Apr 30
Aug 1 – Sept 31 June 15 June 30
Oct 1 – Nov 30 Aug 15 Aug 30
Dec 1 – Jan 30 Oct 15 Oct 30
Feb 1 – Mar 31 Dec 15 Dec 30

Plan ahead!

Scholarship applications often require letters of recommendation, transcripts, and personal statements. Start gathering your materials now to ensure you have plenty of time to submit a strong application. Visit the ACM-W website today to review eligibility requirements and begin your application process.

Application and supplementary information can be found here.

 

 

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.

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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