STEM Week: Martina talks about her admiration for Katherine Johnson
Martina Girolamo, 24, a second-year student on the Master's Degree Course in Computer Science, specialising in Data Science & Machine Learning, at the University of Salerno, is one of the trainers of the Coding Girls programme.
Martina joined the project because she wants to encourage other girls to follow STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects. Together with other students, Martina organised the ‘Occhi nel web’ hackathon last May in Salerno, coordinated by Professor Delfina Malandrino of the Department of Computer Science.
Recently she helped prepare the students of the San Paolo multi-specialist institute in Sorrento for the Game on!, format on the occasion of the visit of the American delegation to Italy, to study the Italian model of approaching Stem disciplines [see the Technology without barriers news].
Martina is the protagonist of our fourth story dedicated to STEM Week.
A passion for computer science
‘I have a deep interest and a continuous curiosity towards topics related to the digital world, ranging from graphics to video game development. During my three-year academic course, I developed a particular passion for Computer Vision and Machine Learning, which was further fuelled through the realisation of my degree thesis. I have a strong desire to interact with other experts in the field, as I believe that interaction with them is a valuable source of learning and stimulation for my continuous professional and personal growth’, says Martina.
Computer science is not an isolated field of knowledge, but a versatile tool that can also be applied in unexpected areas such as art and music. This belief took concrete form during her university studies, leading her to develop projects that blend technology and creativity. One of the most significant projects is MarcoSmiles, which was created in the Computer Music laboratory of the University of Salerno in 2016. The project allows gestures to be associated with musical notes, thus enabling people to play in an innovative way. Designed for people with mobility difficulties, MarcoSmiles is a tangible example of how computer science can break down barriers and offer new opportunities for artistic expression.
The importance of female role models
Meeting a female teacher during secondary school played a crucial role in introducing Martina to computer science, demonstrating how much a passionate teacher can positively influence a student's path.
The inspiration of Katherine Johnson
Among the female figures who have made the history of computer science, Katherine Johnson is a source of inspiration for Martina. Katherine was a mathematician and computer scientist who, with her perseverance and intelligence, made a decisive contribution to NASA's space missions. ‘I am struck by how she made her way in a world that seemed to belong only to men, by her perseverance and stubbornness,’ says Martina.
Although she hasn't yet defined her future path precisely, Martina is guided by the desire to do something useful for others. ‘I'd like to contribute to the community in some way,’ she says.
