Becoming a Plenary or Keynote Speaker in an International Robotics Conference: Perspectives From an IEEE RAS Women in Engineering Panel [Women in Engineering]

The IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) Women in Engineering Committee organized a virtual event for the 2022 International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) and was honored to host Lydia Kavraki, Katherine J. Kuchenbecker, and Vandi Verma as keynote speakers and panelists. These distinguished women have made significant contributions to the field of robotics and have been recognized for their exceptional achievements in research and education: they have all been past keynote or plenary speakers at a major international robotics conference. The presenters were invited to provide their valuable insights as women in the robotics field, engage with the attendees in meaningful conversations, and share their experiences and expertise. The event was held online in Gather, prior to the 2022 ICRA conference, to offer a platform for those unable to participate in the in-person event and to act as an icebreaker for early-career researchers who might be attending ICRA for the first time (
Figure 1
). The event also enabled attendees to connect and network with other professionals in the field, as well as to contribute to the discussion on the critical topic of diversity and inclusivity in robotics.