Happy International Women in Robotics Day!
We'll be celebrating all through October, with events and announcements, including our latest Joanne Pransky scholarship winners and the fabulous 50 women in robotics you need to know about list!
Happy International Women in Robotics Day!
This year, our theme for International Women in Robotics Day on October 2 is "Shine a Light." We aim to highlight the unsung contributions of women in robotics. As part of this celebration, we will publish our annual list of ‘50 women in robotics you need to know about’, announce the latest Joanne Pransky Women in Robotics scholarship winners, encourage companies and communities to hold events, and invite everyone to join our Photo Challenge.
This initiative seeks to increase the representation of women working in robotics, showcasing their contributions to the field.
You can "Shine a Light" too!
And our scholarship winners are….
The Joanne Pransky Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Joanne Pransky, a pioneer and advocate for women in robotics. This scholarship supports young women pursuing careers in robotics and aims to foster inclusivity and diversity in the field.
We are very grateful to all of Joanne’s friends and family for their contributions to the fund, and want to call out The Joseph F. Engelberger Foundation and A3, the Association for Advancing Automation for their very generous donations!
Joseph Engelberger is renowned as the “Father of Robotics” creating the first commercial robot arm company in 1961. Engelberger later moved on to creating the first service robot called HelpMate, and one of his key team members was a woman, Bala Krishnamurthy, who was the chief software and navigation engineer. Bala Krishnamurthy was featured in our “2020 women in robotics you need to know about” list.
The Joanne Pransky Scholarship is open to juniors, seniors, and undergraduates and now to graduate students who demonstrate exceptional talent and dedication in robotics, particularly students who have overcome difficulty to pursue their dreams. The next round of scholarships is now open with a deadline of February 1st 2025.
I am absolutely overjoyed and deeply humbled to be selected as this year’s winner. As a Sri Lankan undergraduate student at Yale studying electrical engineering, this recognition feels particularly meaningful. It has been a journey shaped by curiosity and passion for robotics, and being acknowledged in this way is a profound honor. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the platform you provide to celebrate the achievements of women in robotics. This award strengthens my commitment to contribute meaningfully to the field, especially as someone from a background that is often underrepresented in STEM. Thank you for inspiring and supporting women like me, and for the work you do to elevate diversity in robotics.
The Next Round of Scholarship Applications Is Now Open!
Applications are now open for the next round of scholarships and the deadline is February 1st, 2025. We encourage eligible WiR members to apply and take advantage of this valuable opportunity to support their education and career in robotics.
For more information and to apply, visit our Scholarship Page.
Women in Robotics Annual List
In celebration of International Women in Robotics Day, we compile an annual list of "Women in Robotics You Need to Know About." This year we’ll be announcing a few women who are joining the 2024 edition every few days throughout October, starting with the amazing women of ICRA 1984, the first International Conference on Robotics and Automation.
Since 2012, the Women in Robotics organization has released a list of women building the future in robotics. The list covers all ages, career stages, occupations, and experiences. We’ve featured more than 350 women already and showing that women have always been working in the robotics industry, in the earliest robotics research labs and companies.
We invite you to nominate women for our 2025 list! Visit our Nominations Page for more details. And don’t forget to browse the gallery from previous years!
Thank you for your ongoing support and for being an essential part of our community. Together, we are shining a light on the incredible talent of women in robotics and paving the way for future generations.
Best regards,
Allison Thackston
Vice President, Women in Robotics
Member Spotlight - Dimitra Gkatzia
Meet Dimitra Gkatzia, a Natural Language Generation (NLG) expert whose passion lies in teaching computers "how to talk." Driven by the complexities of making robots communicate naturally with humans—considering gestures, emotions, and environmental context—she is motivated by the challenge of enabling social robots to seamlessly interact with people by recognizing and discussing their surroundings.
Currently, she is an Associate Professor at Edinburgh Napier University, leading the UK-funded CiViL project, which focuses on giving robots human-like abilities, such as commonsense reasoning and communication. She also co-founded NLG4HRI, a workshop series dedicated to advancing NLG methods for Human-Robot Interaction.
Her favorite aspect of robotics is the field’s expansive possibilities and transformative potential. However, she acknowledges the significant barriers to entry for researchers. Looking ahead, she is excited about the potential of robotics to provide impactful solutions in areas like assistive technology, education, and healthcare.
Chapter Highlights
New Women in Robotics Chapter - Denmark
We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new Women in Robotics chapter in Denmark! This chapter is led by Dr. Antonia Krummheuer, a sociologist passionate about social practices, assistive technologies, and human-robot interaction, and Dr. Kristina Tornbjerg Eriksen, a techno-anthropologist focusing on human-robot collaboration in healthcare.
Antonia brings a wealth of knowledge in understanding how people interact with technology in real-world settings, while Kristina’s expertise in the sociotechnical aspects of robotics provides a comprehensive view of how robots integrate into complex environments like hospitals. Together, they aim to build a strong, diverse network that celebrates and amplifies the contributions of women in robotics across Denmark.
The Denmark chapter is committed to showcasing the diversity of women in robotics, attracting more female talent to this growing field, and strengthening connections across academia, industry, and education. They aim to make women’s work in robotics more visible and encourage a thriving, supportive community for women across disciplines.
We look forward to seeing how this chapter will grow and inspire the next generation of women in robotics in Denmark!
Women in Robotics - Bay Area
A round of applause for our trivia champions at the "Celebrating Women in Open-Source Robotics" event!
In the exciting "Know Your Bots" trivia round, these brilliant women put their robotics knowledge to the test, answering the names of famous robots based on intriguing facts.
It was an inspiring evening of learning, networking, and celebrating the incredible women shaping the future of open-source robotics community.
Missed the event? Don't worry! Stay tuned for more exciting events like this one, where we highlight the achievements of women in robotics and bring the community together.
#WomeninRobotics #OpenSource #Robotics #TriviaNight
Leading Ladies
by Mufaro Mutanga
Representation matters and it is certainly refreshing to see women pursue their ideas in the world of robotics leading to establishing and leading enterprises. A glimpse into their stories shows that the journey is not without difficulty but conviction enabled them to push through barriers until finally finding success.
Catalyzing Healthcare Robotics:
Festo - Nuzha Yakoob, Head of Technical Innovation (MIET MIEEE), has been instrumental in launching the Healthcare Robotics Startup Catalyst program at MassRobotics. Her initiative supports emerging healthcare robotics startups, providing essential guidance and resources to scale their technologies. Committed to fostering innovation, Yakoob aims to drive the program's third cohort towards market readiness, reflecting her dedication to advancing medical robotics through leadership and expertise.
Upcoming Events
A snapshot of Women in Robotics casual lunch last year, catch us again at ROSCon 2024 for more inspiring conversations and lasting connections!
Special thanks to Mufaro Mutanga and Dharini Dutia for their contributions to this newsletter!
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