Isabel Ribeiro, Researcher at the Institute of Systems and Robotics, (ISR-Lisbon) / IST, shares her testimony about her own role and the relevance of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
During the month of March, the FCCN Unit joins the GÉANT campaign #WomenInSTEM, presenting, in an interview, the opinions of several guests in the STEM fields.
Isabel Ribeiro (IR): My name is Isabel Ribeiro and I am a researcher at the Institute of Systems and Robotics (ISR-Lisbon).
When and why did you become interested in STEM? Was this your dream as a child/teenager?
GO: I was a kid who liked building mechanical structures and using pliers and screwdrivers for small electrical repairs. I already had a penchant for technology.
How does your work contribute to science, innovation, and knowledge creation? How does your work impact the world?
GO: I've been researching mobile robotics since 1988, a field I pioneered in Portugal. I participated in projects that built commercialized robots, and 35 years later, I see that this field of mobile robotics is widespread across universities. There are schools where groups of girls and boys participate in robotics projects, having fun and learning math, physics, and programming.
What do you hope to achieve professionally (a goal/dream)?
GO: I want to continue promoting robotics to 6/7-year-old children, and my dream is for more and more girls to choose technology as their higher education courses.
What inspiring message or advice would you give to young girls interested in a career in STEM?
GO: Understand that robotics isn't just for men, but for women too. It's a field where women can make a difference.
