IEEE WICE Ecuador: Commemorating International Women’s Day

By Román Lara-Cueva - IEEE ComSoc Ecuador Chapter Chair

IEEE ComSoc Ecuador organized the first IEEE WICE-EC to commemorate International Women’s Day, an event dedicated to recognizing and promoting the role of women in communications engineering. This event brought together experts and professionals to discuss key challenges and opportunities for gender equity in STEM fields. IEEE WICE-EC took place on March 7th, featuring a dynamic lineup of distinguished speakers covering crucial topics in telecommunications, cybersecurity, and gender equity in technology.

The event began with a welcome address from Dr. Román Lara, IEEE ComSoc Ecuador Chapter Chair, who emphasized fostering diversity and inclusion within the engineering community. He highlighted ComSoc Ecuador’s commitment to creating spaces that encourage women’s participation and professional growth in the field.

Keynote Sessions

Our first speaker was Dr. Damla Turgut, IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer, who serves on several editorial boards and technical committees in IEEE. She shared insights on increasing the participation of women and minorities in STEM at large metropolitan universities. The second talk, “Investigando el Futuro de las Telecomunicaciones: Superficies Inteligentes y el Rol de la Mujer en la Ingeniería,” was delivered by Dr. Nathaly Orozco, IEEE Senior Member and researcher at Universidad de las Américas (UDLA). Her discussion focused on intelligent surfaces and their impact on the future of telecommunications, emphasizing the importance of women’s contributions in engineering. The third session, “Género y Tecnología, el futuro es equitativo,” was featured by Elizabeth Falconí, a Young Professional IEEE ComSoc Member. Currently leading IT Problem Management at Banco Pichincha, Elizabeth shared valuable insights on the role of gender in technology and the importance of building an inclusive future. The final talk, “Ciberseguridad Circular: Tecnologías y Estrategias para una Economía Digital Sustentable,” was presented by Julia Urbina, IEEE ComSoc Puebla Chapter Chair and Head of Cybersecurity at CyberIIoT. Her presentation explored the role of circular cybersecurity in ensuring a sustainable digital economy.

Impact and Participation

With the participation of 50 attendees, IEEE WICE-EC successfully provided a platform to celebrate women’s achievements in telecommunications and inspire future generations. This event underscored the importance of fostering gender equity in STEM, creating opportunities for professional growth, and driving technological innovation through inclusion and diversity. Co-organized by IEEE ComSoc Puebla and IEEE ComSoc ESPE, and proudly sponsored by Ciemtelcom, HST, Foderj, and CyberIIoT, this event was made possible thanks to the collaborative efforts of our dedicated partners.

Strengthening Global Collaborations

IEEE WICE-EC served as an opportunity to showcase IEEE ComSoc’s initiatives that support professional growth and global collaboration:

  • Women in Communications Engineering (WICE): IEEE ComSoc promotes women’s visibility and professional growth in the field through WICE, which provides networking and development opportunities for female engineers.

  • Distinguished Lecturer Program (DLP): This program enables IEEE ComSoc members to access insights from world-class experts in communications engineering.

  • Senior Member Grade (SM): The highest IEEE membership grade that members can apply for, recognizing significant professional accomplishments and leadership in the field.

  • Young Professionals Program (YP): A platform for early-career engineers to connect, develop skills, and advance in their careers through global networking and mentorship.

  • Sister Chapter Program (SCP): A global initiative fostering collaboration between ComSoc chapters across different countries and cultures. The Ecuador-Chile partnership was among the award-winning collaborations of 2024, recognized for its outstanding joint programs.

This event reaffirmed the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive community within IEEE ComSoc, where knowledge exchange and mentorship play a crucial role in professional development. IEEE WICE-EC’s success reflects the growing commitment to gender equity in communications engineering, setting the stage for future initiatives that promote greater representation and leadership for women in technology.

Looking Ahead

IEEE ComSoc Ecuador continues its commitment to supporting diversity in technology by organizing initiatives like IEEE WICE-EC, ensuring that women’s contributions to telecommunications and engineering are recognized and expanded upon for future generations.

ShareTweet0 fbShare0 inShare0