From archaeology to information science and research for the human-centered industry’s digital transformation

By Filipa Ramalho, Research Assistant at the Centre for Enterprise Systems Engineering (CESE)

Many people who know me well do not know about this, but for a long time, I wanted to be an archaeologist! Looking back, I think that was when I first came across research and science. I have always been passionate about History, and that’s when I discovered and became interested in archaeology. At the time, without any certainties regarding higher education options to gather information about this possible path. I visited some archaeological sites and talked to several researchers and teachers. The more information I collected, the more I was attracted to the processes of planning, discovery, analysis, and preservation – part of the archaeologists’ work. It was fascinating to me that, from a physical artifact, one could study and understand people’s and societies’ cultures and ways of life, for example. Naturally, I decided to continue my research and discover paths other than archaeology that would appeal to me in the same way but would also grant me more professional opportunities with a higher employability rate.

With a smile on my face, I think about the person I was?20 years ago, who dreamt of being an archaeologist to study the past and the present, and about the person I’m now: a person who envisions helping industrial companies in the processes of digital transformation, and in the implementation of innovative solutions that facilitate the knowledge and communication of information to operators on factories’ floors – in the present and the future!?

The path until the person I am today started with the Degree in Information Science. At that time, it was a very recent and innovative course resulting from a partnership between two very different Faculties: the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Faculty of Engineering. The course was ground-breaking in proposing to address some gaps in the training of professionals, crucial to the new context and challenges of the Information Society. The multidisciplinary training and the diversity of career opportunities, namely those closest to organisations and ICT, fascinated me! I finished my three-year degree and started working at INESC TEC, where I remained for six years. At the same time, I did my master’s degree in Information Science and wrote my thesis at INESC TEC, focusing on Information Management and Business Content. During this time, I always had the opportunity to collaborate on several research and development projects that allowed me to keep privileged relations with academia and research. Afterward, I spent three years in a systems development company that granted me a professional experience in a different organization, which is extremely relevant to my record and identity as a researcher.

I then became a mother, a unique and almost inexplicable experience that involves many questions and a transformation as a person and even as a professional, an experience that is quite challenging. This transformation can be very positive and happy, as well as quite distressing and frustrating (by the way, this is a topical subject, but I believe that much more can be done to help women and mothers overcome these challenges). In my case, one of the results of this transformation was reviving an old desire which had been born while preparing my master’s thesis defense: doing a PhD.?What always motivated me to become a researcher was?curiosity, the desire to learn different and innovative things,?and the aspiration to contribute and make a difference in the future of?organisations, society,?and the world in general!

That was how I returned to INESC TEC, this time with a much greater focus on research; the first challenge was to decide which PhD program I should join and then which issue I would study, question, and explore! I’m extremely grateful to Professor António Lucas Soares, researcher, and my supervisor, for his vital role in inspiring and motivating me to be a researcher. His influence was fundamental, encouraging me and allowing me to meander and find the path that suited me the most, also allowing me to express my interests, questions and opinions freely and without prejudice! As for the PhD, I opted for the Doctoral Program in Digital Media from the Faculty of Engineering. This Program, a partnership between several faculties, allowed me to meet with teachers and other researchers from different areas and access a multidisciplinary plethora focusing on one of society’s greatest needs and current organisations:?Digital Transformation.

My PhD project focuses on studying the importance?of adequate information management for the development of more effective human-centred technologies?in factories. In addition, I aim to explore how immersive technologies like augmented reality can be used to facilitate the knowledge and communication of information to shop floor professionals. Carrying out research in this context makes me very happy, because I can address two dimensions that have always been the common point at all stages of my journey: a social and human dimension and the element of information and communication technologies! I like to think about people and their needs and contribute to technological solutions that address them.?As a researcher, it is also my goal to develop my critical?competencies?to contribute to a strategy for?developing?information technologies and systems – with a vision and concrete objectives that consider not only economic sustainability, but also social and environmental sustainability.?

February 11 marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This date is observed annually, and the goal is to raise awareness of the need to attract more women to Science and to promote women and girls’ access to/participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, training, and research activities at all levels.

According to data released by?UNESCO and UN Women,?only 33% of researchers worldwide are women; they benefit from less research funding than men and are less likely to be promoted. Also,?fewer?women?are?in business leadership positions and technical roles in?the private sector in?technology industries.

In their?joint message, Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women and Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, mentioned, for instance, that artificial intelligence algorithms perpetuate their programmers’ prejudices. This fact deserves our full attention – particularly since (and despite the lack of professionals in this area)?women represent only 22% of those working in Artificial Intelligence and 28% of engineering graduates.

We’ve witnessed significant progress in diversity and inclusion, specifically regarding gender-related questions, but we need to do much more individually and collectively.

If I were to talk to a girl who considers embracing science and research, I would say that?what motivates me most to be a researcher is the opportunity to take the time to?analyse issues from different perspectives, and the freedom to be able to question and explore various solutions without fear of making mistakes. Because even with mistakes and less positive results, we can extract knowledge,?communicate,?and contribute to?searching?for other?answers.?I would also say that, like men, women can be talented and have brilliant scientific minds to address world challenges! Finally, I would like to state that science needs more women and that each one of us can make a difference in closing the gender gap, which undermines our collective ability to find solutions to common challenges.