Ex DoC student is awarded Google's Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship

Maria Nika an ex MSc student here in the Department of Computing has been awarded Google's Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship. The aim of the scholarship is to encourage women to excel in computing and technology and become future role models and leaders. The scholarship is awarded on the strength of the candidates academic performance, leadership and their passion for computer science.

The recipient of the award receives a generous scholarship and will also be invited to visit Google’s Engineering Centre in Zurich for a networking retreat. This retreat includes workshops with a series of speakers, panels, breakout sessions and social activities, and provides an opportunity for all finalists to meet and share their experiences. Well done Maria on this excellent achievement.

The award is named after Dr Anita Borg a world leading computer scientist who sadly died of a brain tumour in 2003. A remarkable woman who devoted her adult life to revolutionising the way we think about technology and dismantling the barriers that keep women and minorities from entering the computing and technology fields. Her combination of technical expertise and fearless vision continues to inspire and motivate countless women to become active participants and leaders in creating technology. A technology rebel with a cause, she fought tirelessly to ensure that technology’s impact would be a positive one. It was this vision that inspired Anita in 1997 to found the Institute for Women and Technology. Today this organization continues on her legacy and bears her name, The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (www.anitaborg.org).

Written by: rsi