Ana recognised for making a difference to women in STEM

The WISE Awards 2019 have recognised artificial intelligence Industry Fellow Dr Ana Matran-Fernandez for making a difference to women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

She is a finalist in the Computing Award category in the WISE Awards 2019, which recognise inspiring individuals and organisations who are actively working to promote and achieve gender balance in STEM in the UK.

Dr Matran-Fernandez’s role at the University of Essex involves working on transferring knowledge from the academic to the real world, collaborating with companies to help them use state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to foster growth and create positive impact.

“My role gives me the unique opportunity to see the transformative power of computing, and, specifically, machine learning and artificial intelligence, but also the dangers and pitfalls of these technologies,” she said. “I love the fact that my job has a direct impact on the world and that it allows me to see how some algorithms can work (or not) on real world data. I work in a field in which there is a lot of misinformation and lack of trust about what algorithms can do, and I actively work to dispel myths of artificial intelligence and be realistic about new technologies.”

Speaking about being a WISE Awards finalist, Dr Matran-Fernandez added: "Being a finalist for this award feels really special and has boosted my confidence in my abilities and my worth. We all have the ability to make an impact on society, and this award provides a platform for me to reinforce this message, specially to little (and not so little) girls that are considering a career in STEM."

Helen Wollaston, Chief Executive of WISE said: “The WISE Awards are an incredible opportunity to find role models who are blazing a trail and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. From the classroom to the boardroom – there are some fantastic examples to show what can be done to get more girls and women into STEM as well as truly inspirational stories from women making a difference through science, technology and engineering.”