(Co-Funded Project by 4TU.Energy and 4TU.NIRICT)
The ICT domain remains heavily dominated by white male leadership, particularly in high-impact application areas. As ICT becomes more embedded into energy systems, another male-dominated domain where digital layers (data, control algorithms, communication) are increasingly central, the lack of diversity in leadership and visibility grows more critical.
This proposal addresses that challenge by showcasing successful female role models in ICT-driven energy innovation,making these leadership paths more tangible to underrepresented groups. The workshops enhance inclusivity by fostering open discussions with partner universities on how to attract and support more women in ICT, while also providing a platform to reflect and share effective strategies across campuses. Furthermore, workshops will also provide training and coaching to make female researchers more confident.
PowerWeb, the coordinating institute, already fosters strong diversity and cross-disciplinarity, and maintains an active network with near 4,000 followers on LinkedIn and more than 1,200 newsletter subscribers. Though this proposal focuses on female representation, it supports the broader aims of diversity, equity, and inclusion across 4TU.NIRICT and 4TU.Energy. Lasting impact is supported by 1) building durable cross-university networks around shared long-term projects (e.g., UTOPYS), 2) creating reusable formats (e.g., lunch lectures and the Best Female Paper Award) that can continue within existing structures, and 3) capturing and sharing experiences and lessons learned via an online channel (e.g., Teams) for reuse by departments and DEI initiatives.
TUD:
- Aleksandra Lekić (main applicant)
- Natalia Romero Herrera
- Peter Palensky
- Alex Stefanov
- Jochen Cremer
- Pedro P. Vergara Barrios
- Anna Latour
- Jose Rueda Torres
- Lily Li
- Alex Neagu
TU/e:
- Christina Papadimitriou
- Nilufar Neyestani
- Koen Kok
- Sharmistha Bhattacharyya
- Anne Roc'h.
UT:
- Nataly Bañol Arias
- Gerwin Hoogsteen
- Jelena Popovic
- Roland van Rijswijk-Dei
- Elham Shirazi.