Celebrating Women in the Smart World Forum at IEEE Smart World Congress 2025
The UbiSensing & AI Lab was honored to participate in the Women in the Smart World Forum at the IEEE Smart World Congress (SWC) 2025, held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from August 18–22, 2025. This remarkable event brought together leading women researchers, industry professionals, and students to discuss the crucial role of diversity and inclusion in shaping the future of smart technologies and artificial intelligence.
A Forum for Inclusive Innovation
The Women in the Smart World Forum is dedicated to discussing the role of women in shaping and thriving in smart technology and innovation—from artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things to cybersecurity and energy—while fostering inclusive environments and meaningful collaborations.
Program Highlights
###Session I: Presentations — Setting the Stage
| **August 20, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM** |
Our lab was proud to have Dr. Sara Saeedi present her research on “Inclusive IoT: Building a Smart World for Everyone” during the opening session. Dr. Saeedi’s presentation explored how IoT can be designed with context-awareness—adapting to users’ environments, cultural norms, and diversity—to serve different communities and bridge socio-economic gaps. Her work exemplified our lab’s commitment to developing technologies that are not only innovative but also accessible and culturally relevant.
The presentation highlighted several of our ongoing projects:
- Postpartum Mental Health App: Leveraging IoT and LLMs for maternal health support
- International Methane Emission Detection: Collaborative environmental monitoring across borders
- Smart City Accessibility: Ensuring urban technologies serve all community members
Session II: Panel Discussion — Building Inclusive Human-AI Partnerships
| **August 21, 2025 | 2:15 PM – 3:45 PM** |
Our lab member Mahnoush actively participated in the panel discussion, sharing her perspective as an emerging researcher in the field. Her contributions highlighted the importance of diverse voices in AI development and the need for inclusive design principles in smart technology applications.
Key Insights from the Forum
The Power of Diverse Perspectives
The forum emphasized how women’s participation across disciplines strengthens human-AI partnerships and ensures that emerging technologies are built with empathy, accessibility, and social impact in mind. Panelists from various fields—AI policy, digital health, education, urban innovation, and ethics—demonstrated how interdisciplinary collaboration leads to more robust and inclusive solutions.
Challenges and Opportunities
Discussions revealed both the challenges women face in pursuing careers in smart technology and the tremendous opportunities available in emerging intelligent technologies. The forum highlighted success stories and role models while addressing strategies for fostering more inclusive and supportive environments in the tech industry.
Building Meaningful Connections
Beyond the technical discussions, the forum served as a platform for building meaningful connections and new collaborations among participants. These connections are crucial for advancing our shared mission of creating a smarter, more equitable world through technology.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The UbiSensing & AI Lab recognizes that true innovation comes from diverse perspectives and inclusive design. Our participation in this forum reinforces our commitment to:
- Inclusive Technology Development: Ensuring our IoT and AI solutions serve diverse communities
- Mentorship and Support: Supporting women and underrepresented groups in STEM fields
- Collaborative Research: Building partnerships that bring together diverse expertise and perspectives
- Social Impact: Developing technologies that address real-world challenges while promoting equity
Looking Forward
The insights and connections from the IEEE SWC 2025 Women in the Smart World Forum will continue to influence our research direction and collaborative approach. We are inspired by the leadership and perspectives shared during the event and committed to advancing technologies that not only solve problems but also uplift communities and drive systemic change.
Join the Conversation
The Women in the Smart World Forum continues to grow and evolve, offering opportunities for researchers, industry professionals, and students to contribute to the important dialogue on diversity and inclusion in technology. We encourage our community to stay engaged with these discussions and consider participating in future forums.
For more information about the forum and upcoming events, visit the IEEE SWC 2025 Women in the Smart World Forum. For a related reflection, see Dr. Saeedi’s LinkedIn post.
The UbiSensing & AI Lab remains committed to advancing inclusive technology development and supporting diversity in STEM fields. Together, we can build a smarter, more equitable future through collaborative innovation and human-AI partnerships.
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