[08/03/2025] International Women’s Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on 8th March that honours the achievements of women and promotes women’s rights. Every year, Edinburgh Hoppers, the Gender Diversity in Informatics Society marks the day with one of their bi-annual big events (the other being Ada Hack). This year, the day is packed with activities including expert panels, lightning talks, workshops, a raffle, and evening networking. The Hoppers, named after the renowned computer scientist Grace Hopper, have been fundamental to the School of Informatics for 20 years. Originally, the group was created by a female members of teaching staff with a mission to empower the women working or studying in the field. Today, it is entirely student-led, aiming primarily to build an inclusive community for their members and foster the school’s welcoming-for-all environment. Building a community and empowering their members Throughout the year, the Hoppers host a variety of events including tech talks with top-tier companies and start-ups to provide members unparalleled learning opportunities and networking platforms for building future careers. Diverse offerings cater to everyone, regardless of their field of study or research interests. Besides technical events, the society organises social gatherings like arts and crafts, game nights, and pub nights - providing plenty of opportunities to build a welcoming, inclusive and supportive community. The two pinnacle events each year are Ada Lovelace Day in October, and International Women's Day in March. Ada Lovelace Day features AdaHack, a 12-hour hackathon in honour of the mathematician Ada Lovelace. The 2024 hackathon focused on education and welcomed participants of all skill levels, providing a perfect venue for networking, finding like-minded peers, and honing technical skills. A day full of opportunities for everyone The upcoming celebration of International Women’s Day on Saturday, 8th March, promises a vibrant agenda. Speed Networking sessions will connect attendees with industry professionals and academics, exploring careers in cybersecurity, data science, AI, cloud computing, web infrastructure, and full stack development. The day will also feature lightning talks from inspirational speakers and interactive workshops and expert panels. While the event celebrates women, it welcomes all, regardless of their degree, university affiliation, or gender. The organising committee aims for a balanced 50/50 gender representation on panels to foster inclusivity. As the Hoppers President Kate McHugh explains, the society’s focus goes beyond community building. “Being present, active, and proud of the spaces we occupy is crucial, but much more needs to be done to bring others on board,” she notes. Large scale change in our society is only possible when everyone is aware of the problems half the population faces. If the other 50% aren’t aware of the issues that women and gender diverse individuals it is difficult to make a true impact. Kate McHugh 3rd-year Computer Science student, Hopper’s president Each year, UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, adopts a different theme for the International Women’s Day celebrations. This year’s theme, For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment, calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change. Through their initiatives, the Edinburgh Hoppers not only celebrate the incredible achievements of women in informatics but actively forge pathways towards a more equitable tech industry, embodying this year's International Women’s Day theme of empowerment and equality for all. Related links Link to Edinburgh Hoppers website International Women’s Day 2025 – For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Emp… Tags 2025 Awareness Day Student Event Publication date 05 Mar, 2025
