SAVE THE DATE: 8 September 2008

TECHNOLOGY-PRODUCING WOMEN MEET UP IN MILAN

The conference Women&Technologies: research and innovation presents a new reality:
women no longer as mere consumers, but as creators of technology

A one-day Conference will be held within the World Computer Congress 2008 (WCC) in Milan, Italy,
on September 8th, 2008, from 9.30 – 18.30 – Fiera Milano Congressi - Sala Rossa – MIC – Via Gattamelata 5

Women and technologies: a combination still marked by too many clichés. It is difficult to overcome the stereotypical image of a woman scratching her head before a computer or feeling intimidated by “high” technology. Even more difficult to overcome is the “ancillary” view of technology reserved for women, limited to home automation or a strictly instrumental use of same: ovens or washing machines that may be programmed remotely “to save time”, or teleworking “in order to keep an eye on the kids”.

The actual situation is rather different, as will be revealed during the conference Women&Technologies: research and innovation. There is a whole world of women out there who don’t merely use technology, but who actually create it, invent it, forge it, in line with their creativity, their needs, their curiosity, giving life to an unexpected and highly innovative technological universe: women researchers operating in universities, firms, public administration; “techno-visionaries” that push the boundaries and have extraordinary, ingenious insights.

This innovation is not merely instrumental, but conceptual as well. «Innovation is not merely about creating new instruments. Above all, it’s about the ability to view problems in a new light and identify new objectives: I think that women have a lot to add in this regard, as will be clear from the speeches of our female speakers», says Gianna Martinengo, the chairperson and mind behind the conference, who has dedicated her life as a researcher and entrepreneur to the relations between research and innovation in ICT.
This enthralling conference, attended by speakers of excellence from the four corners of the globe – Brazil, Lithuania, United States, Greece, Tunisia, Canada and Japan, to name a few of the countries involved – is to tackle largely unexplored issues from a female standpoint.

One of the themes will be Art and affective computing, i.e . how the domain of arts has naturally exploded thanks to digital technologies, how the recognition and generation of emotional properties in humans and in avatars (affective computing) has become one of the key issues for the success of many initiatives, and how women, ever involved in fields such as art and psychology, are set to become creative protagonists in the use of next generation technologies.

Another theme will be Interaction and Dialogues in Communities on the Web of the future, and how the future will see an increasing amount of interaction between people and technologies. Because of course, the "human" element cannot be done away with completely, not even by highly sophisticated robotics. Thus, quintessentially female characteristics such as conversation, argumentation and group management can be translated into added value, particularly with regards to the use and development of technologies.

The conference will also analyse how Innovation in Enterprises and Institutions can take on a significant role in women's professional lives, time management and daily commitments, through solutions such as teleworking or videoconferencing, which can help them tackle their many daily duties. Women tend to be more flexible, and indeed more open and receptive to high technology innovations, and are committed to transforming them into added value with a view to improving their way of life.

Finally, with Women and ICT in Europe the conference will provide a snapshot of what is currently happening in our continent: how many women work and produce technologies, where and how; what institutional initiatives are underway; what the current reference framework is and what projects the European Commission is developing in favour of women and technology.
Much food for thought, therefore, in a thrilling and significant conference, held within the 20th edition of the prestigious IFIP WCC, World Computer Congress 2008, the leading international ICT event to be held for the first time in Italy and to be attended by over 2,000 highly qualified people from all around the globe.

The conference, organised by Didael and the European Parliament (Milan Office), is sponsored by Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission for Information Society and Media, and will be attended by dignitaries such as: Judith Bishop, CoChair International Program Committee WCC and Professor of Computer Science of the University of Pretoria; Diana Bracco*, Chairperson of the special project Research and Innovation and Expo 2015 Confindustria; Mariastella Gelmini, Minister for Education, Universities and Research; Linda Lanzillotta, Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Innovation; Simonetta Matone, Principal Private Secretary of the Minister for Equal Opportunities; Filippo Luigi Penati*, Chairperson of the Province of Milan; Carlo Sangalli, Chairperson of the Milan Chamber of Commerce.
(* ) awaiting confirmation

Eminent speakers from Italy and worldwide are due to take part, as well as three extraordinary Invited Speakers:  Mariagiovanna Sami, of the Politecnico di Milano and member of the Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze, detta dei XL (National Academy of Science); Maria Grazia Filippini, Managing Director and General Manager of Sun Microsystems Italia SpA; Pia Locatelli, Member of the European Parliament and member of the committee for women’s rights and gender equality and of the committee for industry, research and energy.  

Women&Technologies: research and innovation will be held on Monday 8 September 2008 within the 20th edition of the IFIP WCC World Computer Congress 2008,  9.30 – 18.30 – Fiera Milano Congressi - Sala Rossa – MIC – via Gattamelata 5.

The complete programme and an up-to-date list of speakers are available on the portal.

For further information:
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tel. + 39 02.5418091