On June 23rd, in honor of International Women in Engineering Day, the IEEE Affinity Group Women in Engineering Portugal Section (WIE-PT) organized a remarkable event titled “Engineering a Better Future with Women” at FCT NOVA. The event aimed to celebrate and recognize the contributions of women in the field of engineering while fostering discussions about gender equality and empowerment in the industry.

The day commenced with the official opening of the event by IEEE WIE-PT, setting the tone for a day filled with inspiration, empowerment, and networking opportunities. The event featured a diverse and talented lineup of accomplished women engineers who shared their personal experiences and insights, providing a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs they have faced throughout their engineering careers.

Inspiring Keynote – “Feeling Economy and Gender Equality”
The morning session started with an inspiring keynote delivered by Sanaz Nikghadam. Her talk on “Feeling Economy and Gender Equality” shed light on the intersection of emotions and economics and how it relates to gender equality in engineering and technology. Sanaz’s unique perspective captivated the audience, offering new ways to think about and approach gender inclusivity in the engineering domain.

Sparking Conversations: Distinguished Panelists
Following the keynote, attendees were treated to an energizing coffee break to network and connect with other women engineers from IEEE Portugal and beyond. The event continued with a captivating panel discussion featuring prominent women leaders in various engineering disciplines:

• • Cecília Calado: A respected professor at ISEL and lab coordinator for Medical Bioengineering, Cecília is also a founding member of the ISEL Ethics Council.
  • Matilde Pato: An Assistant Professor at ISEL and researcher at IBEB and LASIGE (FCUL), Matilde is actively involved in the Management Committee of the COST Action EUGAIN. 
  • Teresa Gomes: As an Assistant Professor at the University of Coimbra and researcher at INESC Coimbra.
  • Beatriz Santos: Professor at the University of Aveiro and a researcher at IEETA,and a membmer of the SIGGRAPH Education Committee and Eurographics Education Board.
  • Fátima Domingues: An Assistant Professor at the Biomedical Engineering Department at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi-UAE, and a research collaborator at Instituto de Telecomunicações and the University of Aveiro.

Empowering Roundtable: Engineering a Better Future with Women!
The event concluded with an empowering roundtable discussion, where all attendees were encouraged to actively participate, exchange ideas, and share their perspectives on engineering a better future with women. The roundtable served as an excellent platform for open dialogue and collective brainstorming to address the challenges faced by women in the engineering field and explore opportunities for positive change.

Overall, the International Women in Engineering Day celebration organized by IEEE WIE-PT at FCT NOVA was a resounding success. Attendees left the event feeling inspired, motivated, and more connected within the engineering community. The celebration reaffirmed the importance of promoting gender equality and diversity in engineering and highlighted the immense potential of women engineers in shaping a better future for the industry and society as a whole.