Trinity students among recipients of 2015 Intel Women in Technology scholarships

The scholarship programme seeks to encourage women to pursue careers in science and technology

NEWS

Three students of Trinity College Dublin were awarded Intel’s Women in Technology scholarship last week.

Lucia Hughes, Eunice OreOluwa Fasan and Maria Cordero, all junior freshman students, were among 17 new scholars announced at a special awards ceremony in Dublin on November 18.

The scholarship programme is in its fourth year and aims to “encourage a new generation of high-achieving women to take up the challenge of a career in science and technology.”

Hughes, who is studying nanoscience, physics and chemistry of advanced materials, told Trinity News that: “I believe the scholarship will open doors for me and offer me an insight into the world of nanotechnology. I hope that I will gain a good experience from the placement during the summer of third year and that it will help me in going forward, whether it be applying for a job or deciding to do a Masters and later, a Ph.D.”

Speaking to Trinity News, Cordero, a science student, commented that: “Scholarships like this are so important for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields. While the gap is definitely closing, there’s still a lack of women in a lot of areas of science. I think that initiatives like this really show that companies like Intel are acknowledging this fact and are willing to support and help female students to excel in fields that they mightn’t have been able to in the past.”

The scholarship programme offers a monetary grant to the value of €2,000 per annum as well as the opportunity to work on the Intel Leixlip campus between the scholar’s third and fourth year of undergraduate study. They are also assigned an Intel mentor who aids the mentee throughout their academic career. The scholarships are awarded based on the student’s Leaving Certificate results, a personal statement and an interview process on the Leixlip campus.

Intel is currently seeking to expand the Leixlip campus programme. They increased the number of scholars from 7 last year to 17 this year, making a total of 34 scholars nationwide, with an overall investment since 2012 of over €160,000. This follows on from the success of the Intel Shannon Women in Technology programme, which offers similar awards for women in science and technology courses in the South-West of the country.

Una Harty

Úna is a third year Nanoscience student and Trinity Life editor for Trinity News.