"The award as a technology student has also helped me make autism visible"

"To stand out in the world of technology, I advise people to be active, talk with people who have the same curiosity as you and, especially, go beyond the information provided in class."

 

"Every time I tell someone that I am on the spectrum, I find that there is a lot of misinformation and confusion about our capacities."

The ICT Woman Awards form part of the ICT Woman Plan, launched by the Government of Catalonia with the principal objective of increasing the presence, empowerment and leadership of women in the digital field. The awards are organised by the government's Digital Policies Unit in collaboration with the Catalan Women's Institute, the Observatory for Women, Business and Economy (ODEE) of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, and the Tertúlia Digital association.

Ainhoa, enrolled in the double degree in Computer Engineering + Telecommunication Systems Engineering, won the ICT Woman Award in the ICT Student category, dedicated to students who have developed an outstanding initiative or project in this field. In this sense, she was awarded for her work at the UAB School of Engineering, in which she participated in the MEMEnginy technological congress and in the organisation of the TecnoUAB conference series.

-How did you decide to enter the field of Computer Engineering and Telecommunication Systems Engineering?

It was Open Days at the UAB for secondary school centres. In general, I have liked everything about this field since I was little. I was sure I wanted to study somehting related to electronics and a double degree. I liked the subjects included in the degree and I decided that it was going to be my career.

-What challenges or obstacles did you face while developing your project at the School of Engineering?

The main challenge was coordinating it with my studies. I was working on several projects that needed time and sometimes I couldn't dedicated all the time I wanted to everything, just like my other classmates who are collaborating in projects.

-In the awards ceremony you mentioned that you hoped this award served to raise awareness about autism in the world. Can you tell us more about this?

Every time I tell someone I am on the spectrum, I find that there is much misinformation and confusion on the capacities that we may have. People are surprised to hear me studying engineering even though I am autistic, while I could tell yo that at least one-fifth of the people O have met and who study with me are also autistic. They do not realise that autism is everywhere. And what I want to make visible is that being autistic, even though it limits me in some aspects of life, in no way affects my ability to study.

-Can you tell us about your experience at the UAB as an autistic student?

I was diagnosed with autism when I was 17. At secondary school, I was always passionate about technology and science, but this was not shared by many of my classmates so, in turn, I wasn't very interested in socialising. However, at the UAB I realised that everyone was into technology and that they studied it because they liked it just like I did. It was very easy to socialise and that is when I really began to have a lot of friends.

What also helped was having very understanding lecturers and all they support they have given me. Here at the School of Engineering I find that everyone is willing to help me learn. I am very pasisonate about programming and science and I find that lecturers understand that, and that is why they help me so much.

-What were your needs and what type of support did you receive?

What I really need is help because I do not fully understand statements: many times, depending on how things are expressed, I understand them differently than what they mean. Apart from that, I do get anxious with sensorial things, sounds and light, etc.

With the indications made by PIUNE (UAB's inclusion service), lecturers would give me one-third more of the time needed for exams, which helped to understand the directions. I also have the option of going to the toilet whenever I need to, and I can wear construction site headphones that allow me to hear the lecturer, but reduces the noise of pens, keyboard typing, whispering, and so on.

-How do you think your work can inspire other women to access and excel in technological fields?

I think that having a role model can inspire many girls, so work focusing on disemination and collaboration among students and supervised by one or many women is a good way to give students or future students role models to look up to.

At the School of Engineering ther are many women who participate in several technological-oriented projects, such as the TecnoUAB, the TecnoDays, the MEMEnginy, etc. Such as Laia Vilardell and Ariadna Garnica, for example, the two coordinators of the past MEMEnginy edition.

-What importance do you give the ICT Woman Awards in the promotion of female participation in the digital field?

Very few leaders in technology and science are as mediatic as leaders in other disciplines, particularly in the case of women, and that is why I believe these types of initiatives and recognitions increase the visibility of women in ICT, and this motivates new generations in becoming interested in this sector.

-What are the positive experiences you have had as a student of the double degree in Computer Engineering + Telecommunication Systems Engineering?

My lecturers. The lecturers at the UAB are very powerful and many of them are these type of leaders you don't really discover until you get here and study. And having them in class, answering all of your doubts and questions it the best about enrolling in this double degree.

With regards to studying at the UAB, it would be the possibility of organising activities on campus. Being able to finish classes and go to the OpenLabs with a group of friends to work on a project for TecnoUAB is a great experience.

-How do you feel about winning such a distinguished award as is the ICT Woman Award?

I still cannot get my head around it; it is such an honour.

-What advice would you give other students, particularly girls, who aspire to stand out in the fields of technology and computer science?

Be active, talk with people who have the same curiousity as you and, especially, go beyond the information provided in class. I always recommend investigating on your own the things you find most interesting and trying to attend conferences on the subject: there are many in Barcelona and at the UAB.

-And what advice would you give other autistic students?

What is most important for me is for them to talk to their lecturers so that everyone understands what they need. Secondly, use all the necessary tutorial sessions, always clear up any doubts when you don't understand something or need it explained in a different manner. And, lastly, be part of study groups. People who are neurodivergent tend to interpret things differently from how the other person intends to get the message across. Studying in groups, whether you have doubts or not, helps to unify interpretations and, in general, it improves learning.

-How do you see the future of women in the field of Computer Engineering and Telecommunication Systems Engineering?

There is still a lot to be done, but each year I see more and more women at the School of Engineering and the statistics also show the same.

-What do you think is the key to encouraging more female participation in STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)?

Encouraging that there be more leaders and public figures, and more STEM subjects in primary school and, above all, lots of patience because these things take time and at the moment the presence of women is not that high.