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#GEANTwomeninSTEM: Claudia Battista

In honour of Women & Girls in Science Day and International Women’s Day, two important days marked by the United Nations and celebrated across the globe, we are celebrating the women in our community. As our wonder women are involved in many fields, we decided to focus on specific fields and this year we are highlighting the women in Trust & Identity! Like everything in the world of GÉANT, our trust and identity team is a strong collaboration between women (and men!) all over the globe.

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to our colleagues working for T&I, which shows perfectly in this series.

Let us introduce you to Claudia Battista, “IDEM” Federation President and Deputy Director of GARR amongst others things.

 

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Claudia Battista and I am the Deputy Director and Head of the Network Department at GARR – the Italian Research and Education Network.

What is your study and professional background?

I graduated in Physics at the University of Rome La Sapienza in 1987 with an experimental thesis at the Laboratories of the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) in Frascati. Since then, I have been involved with data transmission networks and with the development of the Italian NREN. I worked as the Chief Technical Officer of Consortium GARR since 2003, afterwards Head of the Network Department and GARR Deputy Director since 2010. I have managed, over time, the constant evolution of the network infrastructure, ensuring that it meets the specific needs of the scientific research and academic community in Italy. In 2008 I promoted the pilot project “IDEM”. The aim of this pilot was the creation of an AAI and the establishment of the digital identity federation for the Italian research and education community.

How did you end up in STEM?

The idea of enrolling in the faculty of physics was born in high school (technical-commercial) thanks to a shy and tenacious teacher who was able to pass on the passion for mathematics, physics and the scientific approach to problem solving.

Are there any challenge(s) you face as a woman in STEM (personal, in the sector, in T&I)?

Since I was a kid, I found it more funny to play and spend time with my male friends. The very informal environment in the faculty of physics before and in research institutes later helped me to overcome the inconvenience of being very often the only woman in office, meetings or in the laboratory.

What is it you do in the field of T&I?

Having promoted the birth and development of the IDEM Federation in the GARR community, I have held the role of President of the Assembly of Federation members from the beginning.

Name your greatest experience or achievement in T&I work

I would say that the achievement I just mentioned, about the birth and development of the IDEM Federation in the GARR community, would be my biggest achievement so far.

Any inspiring words for our readers?

Intelligence, determination, commitment but also fun and enthusiasm for life are the key words to achieve your personal goals as well as those in the technical scientific field. There are no differences between men and women in this.

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From all the men and women at GÉANT, we would like to show our gratitude to the female career tigers, young professionals, researchers, students, mothers, experts, in short all the hard working women contributing to not only trust and identity, but all the work we are doing in R&E networking.

Make sure to keep an eye on the GÉANT blog and social media channels and follow the campaign under #GEANTwomeninSTEM.

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