As 2024 ends, let us take a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve shared this year.

In 2024, the ACM Women network welcomed three new chapters in our ACM region: the Koç University ACM-W Student Chapter, the JUST ACM-W Student Chapter and the Nairobi ACM-W Chapter. Each chapter brings unique perspectives and energy, fostering communities where women in computing can thrive, collaborate, and innovate. In addition, the Koç University ACM-W Student Chapter based in Istanbul, Turkey and the UPV ACM-W Student Chapter based in Valencia, Spain started a new collaboration as part of the ACM-W Buddy System. The programme aims to inspire collaborations between the ACM-W chapters across the world, overcoming the barrier of distance and time. We look forward to seeing the impact these chapters make.

Furthermore, 2024 was a year of fantastic events that inspired women in computing from all around the world. In May, ACM-W Europe participated in the ACM-W Global Chapters’ Summit. The event brought together over 150 members of the broader ACM Women global community to highlight the successes and challenges of ACM-W chapters. It was a great opportunity for new and upcoming chapters to meet with other ACM-W chapters, exchange knowledge and get inspired from each other.

In June, our flagship event, the ACM Celebration of Women in Computing: womENcourage, took place at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in Spain. With over 60 posters, two inspiring keynotes, two tech talks, 14 expert workshops, a career fair and a hackathon, the event gathered nearly 300 attendees from 32 countries to learn from one another, network, and celebrate the achievements of women in computing. Thanks to generous support of 16 sponsors, womENcourage travel scholarships were awarded to 66 students. In addition, a special womENcourage scholarship called the ACM-W Europe Reyyan Ayfer Scholarship was awarded to four students who made significant contributions as ACM-W Europe volunteers.

In November, the United States International University – Africa (USIU-Africa) hosted the 2nd ACM Celebration of Women in Computing in Africa: Africa CWIC 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya. This year’s theme, “Strategies to Foster Women’s Inclusion and Participation in Computing”, conveyed our commitment to not only talk about the barriers women in computing face in Africa, but also to come up with ways to break down those barriers.

Moreover, in 2024 ACM-W chapters in Europe hosted six full-day events: the ACM-W Celebration in Valencia (Spain) hosted by the ACM-W UPV Chapter in February, the ACM-W Celebration of Women in Computing: Women’s Marathon 2024 (Germany) hosted by the Kiel ACM-W Chapter in March, the 6th Summit on Gender Equality in Computing (Greece) hosted by the Greek ACM-W Chapter in June, the ACM-W Celebration of Women in Computing: Kvinner i Tech (Norway) hosted by the Trondheim ACM-W Chapter in September, Encouraging Women in Computing: an ACM-W Celebration (Cyprus) hosted by the ACM-W Cyprus Chapter in October, and the Koç University ACM Celebration of Women in Computing (Türkiye) hosted by the Koç University ACM-W Student Chapter in December. These fantastic conferences provided many of our members opportunities to network, learn and celebrate, as well as help them build communities and break down feelings of isolation.

Last but not least, in 2024 ACM-W Europe started the ACM-WE Wikipedia Working Group focused on highlighting the achievements of European women in computing on Wikipedia. The new working group has been meeting on a regular basis developing a methodology for assessing notability, compiling a list of notable women and preparing submissions of Wikipedia pages. We look forward to presenting outcomes of this work at the next womENcourage.

As we step into 2025, we want to thank all members of our community who contributed to our journey this year. In particular, we thank the ACM-W Europe Executive Committee, womENcourage and Africa CWIC Organising Committees, organisers of local ACM-W Celebrations and events, chapter officers, working group members and all other volunteers. The success of ACM-W Europe would not be possible without your dedication and efforts. Whatever 2025 brings, we hope to support you and celebrate with you as you reach your professional and personal goals.

Happy new year!

The 11th ACM Celebration of Women in Computing: womENcourage™ 2024, was hosted at Escuela Politécnica Superior of Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain. The program included more than 60 posters, 2 keynotes, 2 tech talks, 2 expert panels, 17 workshops, a career fair and a hackathon.

We are hoping to see you in the next edition which will take place in Brasov, Romania in 2025. Keep an eye on the website for details of the next edition.

In this issue:

• • End of Year’s Message from ACM-W Europe Chair
  • ACM – W Celebrations of Women in Computing
    • • womENcourage
      • ACM-W Celebration Day (KUCWİC) by Koç University ACM-W Student Chapter
  • ACM-W Rising Star Award 2024-25: Nominations open!
  • In Memory of Barbora Buhnova
  • Blog – My Journey in Tech By Zeynep Inkaya
  • Announcements:
    • ACM Awards and Advanced Grades of Membership Deadlines

Wikipedia, Women and Notability

ACM W Europe would like to see an increase in Wikipedia pages that highlight women in STEM. The Wikipedia Working Group has taken up a mission for sustainable submissions, including the formula for notability, develop a ‘notable women’ list,  and submissions of many Wikipedia pages and present our work at womENcourage 2025.

Read the blog to find out more.