Diversity and Inclusion
Each society is constituted by individuals which are unique from each other. Diversity within any group or society is a winning factor as it implies the presence of different viewpoints and ideas that can significantly empower the group, which will be able to produce effective results thanks to such diversity.
Informatics Europe supports diversity. We believe diversity, in all its aspects, needs to be actively understood, respected, and preserved. Diversity in Informatics can lead to more innovations and creative solutions, creating a more positive impact at both the individual and the collective level.
We can operate at least at two levels: (1) as Informatics community, ensuring software systems respect diversity - this is particularly critical when considering machine learning algorithms that require training on data based on human characteristics or behaviors, but also when designing the UI of software systems; (2) as a community of educators in Europe, focusing on how to take into account diversity in the entire informatics education process such as admission, learning, and examination processes.
Gender Diversity: from WIRE to EUGAIN
Our first achievements in the scope of diversity in informatics relate to Gender Diversity. From 2012 to 2020, Informatics Europe contributed to activities, such as workshops and publications, in improving gender balance in informatics through its Women in Informatics Research & Education (WIRE) working group, with EUGAIN and the Minerva award as two of the major outcomes of this group:
- Minerva Informatics Equality Award: an annual award recognising best practices in Departments or Faculties of European Universities and Research Labs which encourage and support the careers of women in informatics research and education.
- EUGAIN (2020-2024) Informatics Europe was the main proposer and is now the Grant Holder Manager in the COST Action “European Network for Gender Balance in Informatics (EUGAIN)”, which creates a European network of colleagues working at the forefront of the efforts for gender balance in Informatics in their countries and research communities, eventually across Europe at all levels. Most of the WIRE group is now part of the EUGAIN management team.
Inclusion4EU, the Erasmus+ Project
This project is a natural extension of the Ethics4EU project and will develop repositories, tools and expertise to promote truly inclusive software design practices.
Diversity and Inclusion Working Group
More outcomes and resources as a result of Informatics Europe's activities on diversity in informatics can be found here.