The deadline to submit nominations for the Gladys Award is now open

  • The Gladys Award aims to recognize the trajectory and promote the projection of women up to 40 years old. 
  • In this edition, the procedure for submitting nominations has been simplified.
  • The winner will receive a prize of 4,000 euros.

Organized by PUNTUEUS and the Faculty of Computer Science of the UPV/EHU, the fourth edition of the Gladys Award has been presented today in Donostia. This initiative is sponsored by the Gender Equality Body of the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council and supported by the industrial group Danobatgroup and the Equality Directorate of the UPV/EHU.

This fourth edition has been presented by Olatz Arbelaitz, member of the Equality Commission of the Faculty of Computer Science of the UPV/EHU, Lorea Arakistain, marketing director of PUNTUEUS, Nerea Isasi, provincial director of Equality of the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council and Idoia Bustinduy, communication manager of the industrial group Danobatgroup.

With its fourth edition, the Gladys Award has become a benchmark in recognizing young women working in the Basque digital environment. Its goal is to encourage young women to start their careers in technology, thus creating new Basque role models. The winning nomination also receives a prize of 4,000 euros.

Olatz Arbelaitz has explained the importance of creating new female role models in the sector: “The Gladys del Estal Award has so far recognized three women with very different profiles working in the digital environment, introducing three new role models to society. But it’s not enough. Many more are needed for society as a whole to be aware of the multiple profiles that can work in the technology sector and for careers in the digital field to be attractive to young girls.”

The goal is to increase participation

In this edition, the aim is to collect the highest number of nominations possible. Nominations for the Gladys Award can be submitted personally or proposed by a third party. Lorea Arakistain, marketing director of PUNTUEUS, has explained that “often potential candidates do not believe they can be suitable to win the award. That’s why we have made it easier to propose nominations, because we know that we are surrounded by women who can be qualified for the award.” Arakistain encourages reflection on young women working in the digital environment: “I’m sure you can think of someone too.”

In light of the potential barriers a woman may face in applying for the award, the process of proposing candidates has been simplified. To nominate someone, it will be sufficient to provide the candidate’s name, surname, contact information, and briefly explain the reason for their nomination for the Gladys Award.

Nerea Isasi, Director of Equality at the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, has highlighted the work of female computer scientists in the Basque Country: “Female computer scientists are doing exemplary and innovative work in the Basque Country, and the Gladys Award offers an excellent opportunity to give visibility and value to this effort.”

Furthermore, she has emphasized the importance of attracting new generations of women to science and technology towards a digital and egalitarian future: “We must offer role models and inspiration to young girls and women.”

Arbelaitz has also looked to the future: “It’s possible that we have started to reverse the inertia of the last 30 years, but the process is slow, and we have a lot of work to do.”

How to submit nominations

Women working in any area of the digital environment and aged up to 40 years old in 2024 are eligible to participate. The registration period will be open until June 20, 2024. Nominations can be self-submitted or proposed by a third party. In each case, they will be submitted by completing the corresponding form on the website www.gladyssaria.eus.

The Gladys Award was created in 2021 by the PUNTUEUS Foundation and the Faculty of Computer Science of the UPV/EHU, with the support of the Gender Equality Body of the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council and the industrial group Danobatgroup. In last year’s edition, 28 nominations were evaluated, the highest participation to date.

Ane Iturzaeta, first prize-winner

Ane Iturzaeta Agirre (Donostia, 1995) was the winner of the first edition of the Gladys Award. She studied a double degree in Business Administration and Management + Computer Engineering at the University of Deusto. She currently works as a Custom Engineer and is responsible for helping her clients’ companies, both in the public and private sectors. To do so, she tries to respond to day-to-day challenges using artificial intelligence and data.

Olatz Pérez de Viñaspre, winner in 2022

Olatz Pérez de Viñaspre (Vitoria-Gasteiz, 1987) was the winner of the Gladys Award 2022. As for her academic career, she is a Technical Engineer in Computer Systems and a Computer Engineer, studies she completed at the Faculty of Computer Science of the UPV/EHU. Subsequently, she completed a master’s degree in Language Analysis and Processing (HAP) from 2011-2013.

Finally, in 2017 she completed the PhD programme in Language Analysis and Processing at the Faculty of Computer Science of the University of the Basque Country, in Donostia. She is currently an added lecturer in the Department of Computer Architecture and Technology at the Faculty of Computer Science of the UPV/EHU and also works in the world of research.

Amaia Abanda, winner in 2023

Amaia Abanda Elustondo (San Sebastián, 1989) was the winner of the third edition of the Gladys Award. Regarding her academic background, she is a mathematician who completed her studies at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). She later pursued a Master’s in Computer Engineering and Intelligent Systems (KISA) at the Faculty of Computer Science of the UPV/EHU during the 2014-2015 academic year. Finally, she presented her thesis in 2022, jointly conducted at the Basque Center of Applied Mathematics (BCAM) and the Intelligent System Group (ISG) of the Faculty of Computer Science of the UPV/EHU. Currently, she works as a data science researcher at the Tecnalia research center.

About the Gladys Award

The aim of the award, named after the computer scientist Gladys del Estal, is to reward young Basque women working in the digital environment, to create new referents for young people and to disseminate their work. This scientist studied at the Faculty of Computer Science in Donostia and remembering the work she did is also one of the project’s objectives.

About the PUNTUEUS Foundation

PUNTUEUS submitted the application for the .EUS domain to ICANN in May 2012. It is the entity responsible for managing, controlling, and administering the .EUS domain since its approval in 2013.

The mission of PUNTUEUS is to influence the digital transformation of society through the Basque language, promoting the expansion of the .EUS domain and implementing advanced digital transformation projects. At present, almost 15,000 .EUS domains are registered.

About the Faculty of Computer Science of the UPV/EHU

The Faculty of Computer Science of the UPV/EHU was one of the first three centers to offer computer science studies in the Spanish state 47 years ago. Currently, it offers 2 undergraduate degrees in Computer Engineering and Artificial Intelligence, 4 master’s degrees, and 2 doctoral programs, with professors and researchers participating in 17 research groups. Additionally, the Faculty collaborates with numerous companies in the surrounding area.