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ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½â€™s flagship initiative for gender equality in data science and AI has been recognised for its significant contribution to empowering women in higher education

The Ada Lovelace Academy, a pioneering initiative to transform gender representation in postgraduate computational education, based in Imperial’s Department of Earth Science and Engineering (ESE), was awarded the prestigious Julia Higgins Award in a ceremony on 16 July.

We are deeply honoured that Imperial has recognised our work to foster the professional development of women in academia, and we remain committed to creating lasting pathways for them to thrive and lead in higher education! Dr Rossella Arcucci Director of the Ada Lovelace Academy; Associate Professor in Data Learning and AI for Good, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial

Named after Professor Dame Julia Higgins – a renowned polymer scientist and former Dean of the City and Guilds College and Principal of the Faculty of Engineering – the award honours individuals, groups and departments that have made a significant contribution to the support of women in academia at Imperial. It recognises those who have worked to create a level playing field for female academics, building an inclusive environment where women can flourish.

, Director of the Ada Lovelace Academy and Associate Professor in Data Learning and AI for Good in ESE, said: “This award belongs to every student, staff member and partner who believes in advancing the careers and participation of women in STEM. Thank you all for your dedication, passion and support.

“We are deeply honoured that Imperial has recognised our work to foster the professional development of women in academia, and we remain committed to creating lasting pathways for them to thrive and lead in higher education!”

A vision for gender equality

A hub for Imperial’s computational MSc programmes, the Ada Lovelace Academy is dedicated to increasing the representation of women and other underrepresented groups in engineering and technology. Its primary goal is ambitious: to achieve gender equality across its MSc programmes by 2030.

Named after the world’s first computer programmer, the Academy brings together a suite of MSc courses focused on data science, machine learning and AI. It currently includes the following MSc courses in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering:

• Applied Computational Science and Engineering (ACSE)
• Environmental Data Science and Machine Learning (EDSML)
• Geo-Energy with Machine Learning and Data Science (GEMS)
• Renewable Energy with AI and Data Science: Geology and Geophysics (READY)

The Academy has already made significant strides. In its first cohort, 42% of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ were women – more than double the national average for tech and engineering. This achievement reflects a multi-faceted strategy that includes Ada Lovelace scholarships to remove financial barriers, targeted messaging to ensure women are visibly represented, and course designs that incorporate collaborative learning and flexible assessments.

A transformative vision

In the coming years, the Ada Lovelace Academy is set to move to a new dedicated home at Imperial’s White City Campus – a world-leading centre for innovation designed to fuel discovery, collaboration and enterprise.

“Placing the Academy at the heart of Imperial’s White City ecosystem will be transformative, fostering new collaborations across Imperial’s Faculties of Engineering, Natural Sciences, Medicine and the Business School to accelerate scientific entrepreneurship and data-driven innovation and discovery,” said , Head of ESE, at the Academy’s launch event last year.

The Julia Higgins Award recognises the Academy’s significant progress toward this vision and its commitment to building a more inclusive future for science and engineering – one where diverse perspectives drive solutions to the 21st century's most pressing challenges.