Welcoming the New ACM-W Student Chapter at the University of Southampton
ACM-W Europe is delighted to welcome the newly established ACM-W Student Chapter at the University of Southampton to our growing community!
While the chapter officially launched in February 2026, its story began several months earlier at womENcourage 2025 in Brașov, Romania. After attending the conference, several of the chapter’s founding committee members returned inspired by the people they met, the conversations they had, and the sense of community they experienced. Wanting to become more involved in the wider ACM-W network, they decided to bring that spirit back to Southampton and create a community of their own, with the support and encouragement of Dr Adriana Wilde.
Their goal is both local and global, to build a supportive community for students in computing at Southampton while fostering connections with ACM-W members and chapters across Europe, including their buddy university in Romania.
To mark the launch of the chapter, the team hosted their first event: a panel discussion featuring women from academia and industry who shared their experiences of navigating careers in technology. The conversation explored topics ranging from career choices and professional growth to confidence, mentorship, and finding
your place in computing.
As one of the panel speakers, and an alumna of the University of Southampton, I found the event especially meaningful. Returning to the university where my own journey began was a reminder of how valuable these conversations can be. What stood out most was not only the diversity of experiences among the panelists, but also the curiosity and thoughtfulness of the students in attendance.
Their questions went far beyond job titles and career pathways. They asked about confidence, belonging, navigating uncertainty, and making decisions when there is no obvious “right” answer. One of the strongest takeaways from the discussion was that there is no single path into computing. Each panelist had arrived where they are today through different experiences, opportunities, and challenges. It was a powerful reminder that our field is strengthened by the diversity of journeys that people bring to it.
For ACM-W Europe, the launch of the Southampton chapter is a wonderful example of the lasting impact of womENcourage. The conference is much more than a few days of talks and workshops. It creates connections, sparks ideas, and empowers participants to return to their own institutions and build something meaningful within their communities.
The Southampton chapter exists because a group of students attended womENcourage, found inspiration in the ACM-W community, and decided to create opportunities for others. That ripple effect is at the heart of what ACM-W strives to achieve.
As we look ahead to womENcourage 2026, stories like this remind us why these spaces matter. The most meaningful outcomes are often not measured by what happens during the event itself, but by the communities, collaborations, and initiatives that continue long after it ends.
We are excited to welcome the ACM-W Student Chapter at the University of Southampton and look forward to seeing the impact they will make in the years to come.