SANTA CLARA, CA -- 07/22/08 --
WITI (Women in Technology International),
founders of the world's premier annual award for women in science and
technology, is pleased to announce the stellar class of women who will be
inducted into the 2008 WITI Hall of Fame at its annual conference "Women
and Technology Summit: Women's Leadership - Shaping the Future," October
12-15 at the Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara, CA.
"This year's recipients of WITI's 13th class of inductees include women who
met rigorous standards of excellence in their contributions to science and
technology, their ability in helping shape the next generation of
scientists and technologists and for making the world a better place
through science and technology," said Julie Lubbering, founding member and
spokesperson for the WITI Hall of Fame.
This year's selection of five women leaders for induction into the 2008
WITI Hall of Fame includes:
Deborah Estrin, Director, Center for Embedded Networked Sensing, Professor,
UCLA
In August of 2002, the National Science Foundation awarded Estrin and her
colleagues a ten-year, $40 million grant to develop a multi-disciplinary
research center targeting innovative embedded sensing systems and
applications. Under Estrin's leadership the Center for Embedded Networked
Sensing (CENS) has developed new technologies for scientists to study the
impact of climate change and land use on watersheds and ecosystems, and
most recently has applied mobile technologies to the study of urban
concerns. Deborah is the daughter and sister respectively of WITI Hall of
Fame inductees Thelma and Judy Estrin. CENS is based at UCLA
(http://research.cens.ucla.edu).
Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, M.D., Professor of Epidemiology, The University of
Texas School of Public Health
Not satisfied with being a natural leader or even just a pioneer in her
field, Susan Hoch became an unprecedented humanitarian, risking her life
again and again in her quest to eradicate the planet's most terrible
diseases. She was critically instrumental in the identification of water
systems as the cause of Legionnaires disease. While working at the CDC, she
led efforts to contain diseases such as Ebola and Lassa fever in the
poorest and remotest places on earth. She is now working in minority
communities at The University of Texas School of Public Health Brownsville
Regional Campus in south Texas establishing research programs and mentoring
young scientists. Fisher-Hoch's life story, with her husband Joseph
McCormick, is detailed in the book "Level 4: Virus Hunters of the CDC."
Mary Lou Jepsen, CEO, Pixel Qi
Time Magazine named Jepsen one of the 100 most influential people in the
world for her work as co-founder and CTO of One Laptop per Child. She was
lead innovator and architect of the lowest-cost, lowest power, and greenest
laptop ever made, making possible the distribution of millions of computers
to children in developing countries. Notably she convinced Asian
manufacturers to join the effort despite widespread disparagement about its
viability, and led the development of the laptop and saw it into mass
production. She is also responsible for the most significant innovations
in the laptop -- the innovative sunlight-readable screen, and the laptop's
power management system.
Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Columbia University
Novakovic is a leader in Tissue Engineering, the development of biological
substitutes to restore, maintain or improve tissue function. One of the
most promising fields of scientific and technological inquiry, tissue
engineering's ultimate goal is custom grown designed or tailored tissue for
each person. Novakovic has authored more than 220 articles and two books on
Tissue Engineering. In 2002, she was elected a Fellow of the American
Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. She directs the
Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering at Columbia University,
and is tirelessly pursuing the dream that one day we can all benefit from
Tissue Engineering.
Jian (Jane) Xu, Ph.D., Distinguished Engineer, CTO, China Systems and
Technology Labs, IBM
With a PhD in parallel processing, Dr. Jane Xu is a pioneer in IBM
middleware and XML software development. Dr. Xu leads IBM Systems and
Technology development in China, creating innovations in energy management,
environmental improvement and multicore technology. During the 1998 Winter
Olympics, Dr. Xu provided technical leadership to the official web site,
which handled millions of simultaneous views. She is a leading inventor
and holds more than 20 patents. She co-leads IBM's Women Networking Groups
in Asia Pacific. By applying effective communications, mutual respect and
empowerment, Dr. Jane Xu continuously improves the leadership competency,
spirit, and success of all those she encounters.
Individual tickets and tables are available for the WITI Hall of Fame
Awards Ceremony, which will take place at the Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara,
CA on October 13, 2008 at 6:00 pm, as part of the "Women and Technology
Summit," a three-day professional educational and networking conference.
"Every year, all WITI Hall of Fame winners are chosen by a completely
independent panel of Judges. The women selected for 2008 induction to the
WITI Hall of Fame are leaders committed to improving the status of humanity
for future generations. WITI Hall of Fame winners stand as role models for
the next generation of women" -- fundamental criteria for consideration for
induction into the WITI Hall of Fame according to Carolyn Leighton (founder
of WITI), a leader herself in establishing the world's premier organization
for women in technology. Leighton also adds that these women in particular
are unique in that they are specifically women pioneers shaping the future
through science and technology.
According to Ron Glover, VP, Diversity & Workforce Programs, IBM
Corporation, a sponsor of the 2008 WITI Hall of Fame Awards Banquet, "The
rise of women in leadership positions in the workforce is key to
innovation. And with that said, we should note that it's no longer just
about the number of women who become leaders -- but it is about their
intellectual value and contribution to the organizations they support as
leaders, it's about collaboration with peers as executives, and it's about
acknowledging and rewarding their ideas and leadership. Congratulations to
the 2008 WITI Hall of Fame inductees. You are an inspiration to all women
and a role model to those considering careers in engineering and the
technical professions."
This is the 13th anniversary of WITI's Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The
WITI Hall of Fame Award was designed to recognize women's innovation across
different fields of science and technology and to encourage young girls and
women to become more technologically literate, as well as choose careers in
science and technology. The WITI Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony
is attended by leaders from industry, academia and the media.
For more information, or to register, visit:
http://www.witi.com/nationalconference
To view the entire WITI Hall of Fame, go to:
http://www.witi.com/halloffame
About WITI
WITI is the nation's leading trade association for professional, tech-savvy
women committed to using technology, resources and connections to advance
women worldwide. With a global network of smart, talented women and a
market reach exceeding 2 million, WITI has established powerful strategic
alliances and programs to provide connections, resources, and opportunities
within a supportive environment of women committed to helping each other.
WITI's mission is to empower women worldwide to achieve unimagined
possibilities and transformations through technology, leadership and
economic prosperity.
