10 February 2025
United to Celebrate Women and Girls in Science: the European Centres of Excellence promote Women’s Talent and Leadership at HiPEAC25
The European Centres of Excellence collectively affirmed their commitment to fostering an inclusive environment in High-Performance Computing and related fields at HiPEAC25, the premier European forum for experts in advanced systems and technology.
This year marks the tenth International Day of Women and Girls in Science with a theme of 'Unpacking STEM careers: Her Voice in Science'.
Founded by the UN General Assembly in 2015, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated worldwide to encourage gender equality and ensure equal access and participation for women and girls in science.
Despite the effort in recent years to promote a more inclusive environment in scientific disciplines such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), a significant gender gap persists at all levels of science.
As per the United Nations, « gender equality and women’s empowerment can make a crucial contribution to the world’s economic development, as they contribute to progress across all the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development » yet women and girls continue to face systemic barriers and biases in pursuing scientific careers.
To honor women’s significant achievements in science and technology, the European Centres of Excellence (CoEs) joined forces at the HiPEAC25 (High Performance and Embedded Architecture and Compilation), Europe’s leading network for researchers and professionals in computing systems. During the conference, the CoEs organized two special workshops to give voice to women experts in High-Performance Computing (HPC) and discuss the challenges and opportunities arising from the upcoming exascale transition.
The initiative proposed by the European CoEs addressed ongoing gender disparities in HPC, where women remain underrepresented, particularly as keynote speakers at conferences. By normalizing women’s voices in the field, the CoEs aim to inspire and empower the next generation of women in STEM.
On this tenth anniversary since the first February 11, the CoEs reflect on 10 years of collective actions aimed to break stereotypes and promote inclusion, diversity, and equity in science.