On October 20, 2024, the inaugural Latin American Meeting of Women in Control Engineering took place, bringing together over 40 women—students and professionals—from Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and Peru. This event was held during the IEEE ICA ACCA 2024 conference in Santiago, Chile. It was made possible with the financial support of the IFAC Activity Fund, with which scholarships could be awarded to bring people from other countries to Chile.
Activity Organizer
Dra. Karina A. Barbosa, Department of Electrical Engineering, Universidad de Santiago de Chile; [email protected]
IFAC Sponsor: Asociación Chilena de Control Automático, NMO IFAC for Chile
Description
On October 20, 2024, the inaugural Latin American Meeting of Women in Control Engineering took place, bringing together over 40 women—students and professionals—from Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and Peru. This event was held during the IEEE ICA ACCA 2024 conference in Santiago, Chile. It was made possible with the financial support of the IFAC Activity Fund, with which scholarships could be awarded to bring people from other countries to Chile.
The day began with a warm welcome and lunch, followed by a panel discussion featuring leading experts Dra. Patricia Pena ( co-founder of the “Mulheres na Automatica” (Women in Automatica) at the Brazilian Society of Automatica), Dra. Lizeth Torres ( President ofAsociación Mexicana de Control Automático, Mexico), and Ledly Henriquez (Manager of SHH Electrónica Industrial Chile) and moderated by Dra. Karina A. Barbosa (President of IEEE Control System Chapter Chile and treasure of Asociación Chilena de Control Automático). These distinguished panelists shared their insights on the challenges and opportunities facing women in control engineering in Latin America.
Following the panel, participants engaged in collaborative group discussions and dynamic activities, exploring strategies to promote female leadership in STEM fields. The afternoon session focused on sharing experiences and brainstorming ideas to attract more women to engineering, from primary education to university and professional levels.
One significant outcome of the meeting was the formation of the Latin American Network of Women in Control Engineering. This network aims to foster collaboration, share initiatives, and increase the number of women in the field of control engineering.
Some feedback from the participants:
- “Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in such an amazing meeting, it was really moving to be heard and hear other women’s experiences, relate to them, feel the support, and that I’m not alone. I hope we can all meet again in future meetings.” ( Postgraduate student from Colombia)
- “I would like to express my deep gratitude for being invited to participate in the IFAC LA-WICE in Chile, especially for receiving the scholarship that made my attendance possible. The warm hospitality and flawless organization of the team made every moment an enriching experience. It was inspiring to be surrounded by brilliant women, sharing experiences and strengthening our space in control engineering. This meeting not only expanded my academic horizons but also brought meaningful changes to my personal life, reinforcing my confidence and motivation to continue on this journey.” (Brazilian undergraduate student)
- “Personally, the meeting of women in automation and control was an inspiring experience. It allowed me to hear first-hand the testimonies of women who are also working in this field, which, as an undergraduate student, motivated me to continue striving to get more women into this field and to inspire girls and young women to study similar careers. At this meeting, I discovered professions I had never heard of and was able to appreciate the work of female researchers, which was very enriching for me since I am also beginning to delve into the world of scientific research. I deeply appreciate the support of the organization, which allowed me to be there as a scholarship holder, making this valuable experience possible.” (Peruvian undergraduate students)
- ”It was an incredible initiative, enabling many women from different countries to participate. I had never seen anything like it before. Congratulations to everyone involved. I hope the efforts for these events continue.”( Brazilian postdoc)
The event was a resounding success, inspiring and empowering participants. We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and dedication of young women who aspire to excel in academia and industry. Let’s continue to create inclusive spaces for women in engineering and STEM!
The first photograph below shows the IFAC LA WICE organizing committee and the invited panelists. From right to left, the people in the photo are Ledly Henríquez (Chile), María Coronel (Chile), Lizeth Torres (México, President AMCA), Karina A. Barbosa (Chile), Patricia Pena (Brazil), and Mario Fernandez (Chile, President ACCA). The second photograph shows the participants of the IFAC LA WICE after the panel discussion ended. A video of the event can be found at
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBZn2Z6yM0E/?igsh=aGx2dXlpY2c5Z2c%3D.
