‘Women in AI & Cities’ Project funded by Women in Big Data (NRP 75) - Promoting Gender Diversity at AMLD 2020

Description of impact

This initiative promoted women's participation in AI applications for urban challenges by securing CHF 5,000 funding from Women in Big Data to support female researchers and students participating in the AI & Cities track at Applied Machine Learning Days (AMLD) 2020 at EPFL. As project PI (Project ID: S-92200-02-01) and lead co-organizer, I developed a comprehensive program ensuring diverse representation in AI and urban technology fields where women remain underrepresented. The track featured prominent female speakers including experts from UC Berkeley, Google AI Ghana, University College London, and emerging researchers from international institutions, with special sessions addressing gender issues in urban technologies and AI bias.

Reach: International

Beneficiaries:
- Female researchers and students in AI, data science, and urban studies
- Research and academic institutions seeking to improve gender diversity
- Urban technology companies and practitioners
- Policy makers concerned with inclusive technological development
- The broader scientific community through diverse perspectives in AI applications

Evidence of Impact:
- Successfully funded 8 female participants, enabling their participation in a prestigious international conference
- Achieved strong female representation among speakers (with 66% of confirmed invited speakers being women)
- Created a dedicated space to discuss gender issues in urban AI applications through specialized sessions
- Facilitated networking opportunities through organized dinners and receptions specifically for women and minorities
- Contributed to career development for early-career female researchers in STEM
Raised awareness of the importance of diverse perspectives in AI systems affecting urban governance

This initiative directly addressed Switzerland's challenge where fewer than half of STEM students are women, creating pathways for female participation in emerging technological fields with significant societal impact. The documented experiences from funded participants demonstrate the initiative's tangible benefits for professional development, networking, and confidence-building for women in AI.


Category: Engagement
Subcategory: Knowledge Exchange & Diversity Initiative
Type: Community engagement and capacity building

Impact date	Oct 2019 → Mar 2020
Category of impact	Network Activity, Training Delivery
Impact level	Engagement