UCL Computer Science is proud to celebrate the recipients of the Student Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Awards 2026, recognising students whose outstanding contributions have helped create a more inclusive, welcoming and equitable environment within the department and beyond.
The awards highlight the dedication of students who have championed diversity, widened participation in computing and technology, and developed initiatives that empower underrepresented communities.
BSc Student EDI Award Winners
Asmita Anand - Addressing Bias in Technology
Asmita received recognition for her work exploring bias in technology and promoting more equitable approaches to technological development.
She said:
“I feel incredibly grateful to receive this award and am very thankful to my supervisors for their support throughout this project. Working on this topic highlighted to me the importance of identifying and addressing bias in technology, and it was a rewarding opportunity to explore such an important issue.”
Victoria Smirnova - Using Technology to Improve Accessibility
BSc student Victoria Smirnova was recognised for developing technology that supports patients facing language barriers when accessing healthcare services. Victoria explained the inspiration behind her project:
“I built this project because I believe digital innovation should open doors rather than close them. Having experienced language barriers myself when navigating public services in the past, I wanted to create something that gives patients who struggle with English the same ability to independently access NHS care as everyone else.”
MEng Student EDI Award Winner
Qichen (Ian) Yin – Expanding Access to AI and Robotics Education
Supported by Professor Elaine Pimentel and Taznim Aktar Nisha, Qichen (Ian) Yin was recognised for combining cutting-edge artificial intelligence topics including image recognition, large language models and natural language processing—with robotics education through Winchester College summer schools and UCL outreach programmes.
Through these activities, Ian delivered engaging lectures and workshops to more than 200 students from over 15 countries and more than 10 schools, helping to inspire future generations of technologists and innovators.
PhD Student EDI Award Winners
Anthi Papouli – Empowering others through mentorship, outreach and inclusion
Anthi Papouli was awarded First Prize in the PhD Student EDI Awards 2026 for her outstanding contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion within UCL Computer Science. Over the past two years, Anthi has supported the London Hopper Computer Science Spotlight Competition, helping to review applications, shortlist candidates and supported the delivery of the event.
She also established a partnership with King’s College London, creating new opportunities for collaboration and mentoring, and introduced a mentoring programme for students from underrepresented groups. Through her leadership and commitment to widening participation, Anthi has helped create a more supportive and inclusive environment for students, making a lasting impact on the department’s EDI efforts.
Furthermore, Anthi was recognised for her exceptional commitment to EDI and outreach activities that have broadened access to opportunities in computer science.
Reflecting on the award, Anthi said:
“Championing EDI and outreach has always been deeply important to me, but since joining UCL and the Department of Computer Science, I’ve truly felt empowered to turn that passion into meaningful impact. I am incredibly honoured to receive this award and I see this recognition as motivation to continue advocating for inclusive spaces that empower others to dream big and pursue opportunities they may once have thought were out of reach.”
Ramneek Ahluwalia – Building community and belonging among PhD students, and inspiring the next generation in STEAM
Awarded Second Prize in the PhD Student EDI Awards 2026, Ramneek was recognised for her commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for first-year Computer Science PhD students. Through organising gatherings for women within the cohort, she helped create opportunities for connection, peer support and the sharing of experiences, strengthening a sense of belonging within the doctoral community.
Her efforts have contributed to building a welcoming space where students can support one another, discuss challenges and celebrate successes throughout the early stages of their research journey.
Ramneek was also recognised for her work supporting and encouraging young people to pursue careers in STEAM subjects. Ramneek said:
“It is an absolute pleasure to receive second prize for the PhD Student EDI Awards 2026. I have absolutely loved working with my amazing colleagues to empower and inspire the next generation of students to embark on their journey within the STEAM industry! Thank you to everyone who has collaborated and supported me over the past year and I cannot wait to continue this meaningful work over the coming years!”
Marcelina Marjankowska – Expanding Access Through Skills Development
Marcelina was recognised for her contribution to designing and delivering an Arduino course that helped broaden access to technical learning opportunities.
She commented:
“I appreciate the EDI team’s encouragement in making projects like this possible. It was a pleasure to help design and deliver the Arduino course.”
Top EDI Group Award Winners
Silvia Santamaria Buil, Matilda Moore, and Joanna Abraham:Athena Swan Students Reps Recognised for Celebrating Women in Technology, and International Women’s Day 2026
A group award was presented to students who worked with the Athena Swan Committee to develop initiatives supporting women in computer science and technology.
The award specifically recognises the students’ leadership in organising and delivering the department’s International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations, which formed part of UCL’s bicentennial programme marking the university’s 200th anniversary.
The students consistently went above and beyond their roles, demonstrating exceptional initiative, creativity and leadership in delivering a high-profile event that celebrated women in technology and encouraged greater participation in the field.
Silvia Santamaria Buil reflected on her experience:
“The Athena Swan Committee has been so welcoming during my first year at UCL. It was a pleasure to support women in the CS community by running this event with Matilda and Joanna!”
Matilda Moore highlighted the impact of the initiative:
“We are incredibly grateful for this award and to have had the opportunity to contribute to the initiatives supported by the Athena Swan Committee. It was wonderful to bring together inspiring women from the tech industry and academia, highlighting the presence and achievements of women in a still-male dominated field. We hope these initiatives encourage students and help bridge the gender-gap in technology and computer science.”
Joanna Abraham described the team’s vision:
“Technology shapes the lives of people from every background, so it’s only natural that the people building it should reflect that diversity. In this spirit, we wanted to celebrate women in technology! The Athena Swan network already runs initiatives like Athena Circle within UCL, but for International Women’s Day we wanted to create something especially memorable.
As this year also marks UCL’s 200th anniversary, we organised a fun campus-wide treasure hunt to celebrate both occasions, followed by a networking session with industry and academia members, giving students the opportunity to hear firsthand about the experiences of women in tech, and learn about career opportunities in the field.”
Philipp Bruhns, Parn Limwattananon, Priya Bargota, Eima Miyasaka, Oltun Ozavci, Atique Aslam, Sunain Syed, Sofia Saronne, Anda Dong, Nemo Shu, Mathias Gerez, Siddhant Murugkar and Yash Joshi - Inclusive Technology for SEND Learners
The Second Place Group Student EDI Award was awarded to a team of Computer Science students whose innovative work has helped make education more accessible and inclusive for learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
Working in partnership with the National Autistic Society, the students developed a range of educational games and tools designed to support learners with diverse needs, including students with limb differences, dyslexia, and speech and language challenges.
By adopting a co-creation approach that centred accessibility and lived experience, the team ensured that their solutions addressed real-world barriers to learning while promoting confidence, independence and engagement.
Their work also extended beyond project development, with the students showcasing their innovations at the department’s Rae Harbird Day outreach event, inspiring young people from under-represented backgrounds through accessible demonstrations and inclusive design.
Anthi Papouli, Ramneek Ahluwalia, Marcelina Marjankowska, Xi Nan (Nax), and Tara Kasayapanand - Widening Participation Through Robotics and AI Education
The Third Place Group Student EDI Award was awarded to PhD students in recognition of their outstanding leadership in designing and delivering a Robotics and AI Crash Course for Year 12 state school students.
Created in response to disparities in access to advanced computing opportunities, the six-week programme aimed to provide students from underrepresented backgrounds with hands-on experience in robotics and artificial intelligence, helping to build confidence, technical skills and aspirations for higher education.
The team worked collaboratively to develop teaching materials, design engaging practical activities and ensure the course was accessible to students with varying levels of prior experience.
Many team members went beyond their existing expertise, learning new technical skills in order to deliver the programme effectively. As an all-female team operating in a field where women remain underrepresented, they also provided powerful role models for participants, demonstrating that women can thrive as innovators, educators and leaders in technology.
Through their commitment to widening participation, collaborative working and inclusive education, the team has helped create new opportunities for young people to explore robotics and AI while challenging stereotypes about who belongs in computing.
Celebrating Student Leadership in EDI
The 2026 Student EDI Award winners exemplify the passion, creativity and dedication that make UCL Computer Science an inclusive and supportive community. Through mentorship, outreach, research, education, advocacy and innovation, these students have helped widen participation, challenge barriers and create opportunities for others.
Their achievements demonstrate the powerful role students play in shaping a culture where everyone can thrive, and the department congratulates all award winners and nominees for their outstanding contributions to equality, diversity and inclusion.
