It is the best IT in Italy, according toItalian Computer Society, association of professional computer scientists. Anna Vaccarelli, senior technologist at the Institute of Informatics and telematics of the CNR of Pisa and external relations manager of Registro.it, received the special recognition because – as stated in the text of the proclamation – it is «among the pioneers of cybersecurity, of scientific dissemination aimed at digital in Italy and an international expert “.
When Anna Vaccarelli was studying Electronic Engineering in Pisa, at the end of the 1980s, there were only 4 girls out of 150 freshmen. “In the first lesson of Analysis 1, the professor openly advised us to change faculties because” women’s brains are different from men’s “and we couldn’t have done it,” he tells us. “All four of us graduated, 100% of the sample, against less than 50% of the males.”
How did your passion for Stems start?
“I could tell a compelling or a thrilling story, but it wouldn’t be true. In high school I liked mathematics very much, so I was still oriented towards scientific studies, but, having a certain practical sense, I excluded the “pure” one. I had some doubts about Physics, Architecture would have fascinated me too (but – I said to myself – would I ever work?), But when I felt that some of my classmates would enroll in Electronic Engineering I understood that it could also be my choice: applied scientific studies in a new sector (in fact not all universities still offered this option) and probably promising. Of course, at the time I had the enlightened support of my parents, who encouraged me in my choice and were always proud of it ».
And once you graduate?
«Fascinated by the environment in which I had carried out the thesis, I chose to remain in the habit of research, convinced of dedicating myself to telecommunications. My working environment, within three years, became the National Research Council (Cnr) in Pisa. In reality I no longer dealt with telecommunications, but with image processing for several years and then, from the end of the 90s, with computer security, when it was still a pioneering environment. In those years I started, in my Institute at the time, a research group in this sector, which today is of absolute importance at an international level, which I accompanied for a few years and then entrusted to a brilliant younger colleague, to devote myself completely to the Registry. .it, the register of domain names with .it extension, managed by the Institute of Informatics and Telematics of the Cnr “.
Are you satisfied with your work?
“Working in the CNR has always given me the opportunity to do things that I liked, that often amused me and gave me a lot of satisfaction and for this I am grateful to the institution I belong to”.
Have you ever felt discriminated against or hindered because you are a woman?
«Apart from the episode of the Professor of Analysis, in the research environment in which I lived there is no climate of discrimination. I always remember that, still quite young, at just over 30, I was entrusted with the responsibility of a group of 11 technicians, all males, all older than me and all very experienced in their field. At the first meeting with the new group, to break the ice I brought a nice tray of sweets (the gesture was appreciated and has since become a tradition of every meeting) and began by asking them to explain what exactly they did and what they expected from me. An excellent relationship was established immediately with all of them: I had not “invaded” their field, I respected their work and appreciated their competence, I took into account their advice and the collaboration that was born was very fruitful. Also on their part there was great appreciation and openness and even today, if we meet, we have huge parties (and it’s been more than 25 years) and they still call me affectionately “my boss”! That environment, which on paper could have been difficult, was actually an opportunity for everyone, which we all had the common sense and the willingness to take advantage of ».
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