Delvin academic appointed to key role at Lero
A Delvin-born academic has been appointed deputy director of Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software.
Professor Ita Richardson (née Doherty), a leading champion of Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) is professor of Software Quality in the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at University of Limerick.
An internationally recognised researcher in global software development and connected health, Prof Richardson will be the first woman to hold the role since the foundation of Lero in 2005. She is to continue in her role as co-principal investigator in Lero.
Professor Richardson is one of six children born to the late Carmel and Eugene Doherty of Ballinvalley. Three of her siblings are still in the area – Olive (Leonard), Delvin, Patrick Doherty, The Downs, and Catherine (Daly), Glenidan; her older brother, Joe Doherty is in Cork and her older sister Therese Lydon is in Galway.
A past pupil of St Ernan’s NS, Prof Richardson attended Loreto College, Mullingar and later the National Institute of Higher Education (as it was then) in Limerick, where she studied Applied Mathematics. She received her doctorate in 1999.
Prof Richardson is passionate about introducing women to exciting careers in STEM, particularly in software engineering and computer science, and recalled her introduction to computing at the age of 12, when maths teacher Sr Concepta Murtagh introduced her class at Loreto Convent to computer programming.
“Sr Concepta forged links with ICL (International Computers Limited) in the UK. We would write out our programs. She printed them out on ‘green striped’ computer paper – it was fascinating. So, when a new course started in UL – NIHE Limerick, as it was then – focused on maths and computing, it was my top choice on the CAO form,” she said.
“I believe that girls and women should be given equal opportunity to fulfil their capabilities and interests, and it is imperative that we as educators encourage them to see the global importance of software.
“Software is all around us – in hospitals, transport, schools, farming, banking, music – and Ireland needs educated people to support its development. Much of the outreach that I do is to encourage young women to consider the STEM options, to look around them, and to think outside the box.”
There has always been a strong GAA ethos among the Doherty family members, and Prof Richardson has also had an impressive sporting career. She was a talented camogie player as well as a prize-winning race walker. She also played hockey, and while a student in Limerick was on the college volleyball and basketball teams.
Swimming then entered her life and she went on to become an instructor and water safety examiner, later playing a lead role in the development of the swimming and water safety curriculum for primary schools.
With husband Bob, she is mother to Niamh and David.
Lero director, Prof Lionel Briand, who started in his new role in January, said he is delighted that a renowned researcher of Prof Richardson’s calibre has taken on this leadership role in the centre.
“Prof Richardson has and will continue to play a key role as Lero develops the world’s best tech talent and leaders of tomorrow,” he said, adding that Irish IT specialists are among the best educated in the EU with 78% having a third-level qualification (the EU average is 61%).
“Prof Richardson has played a crucial role in enhancing Ireland’s software talent pipeline,” he stated. “She is dedicated to engaging people in STEM and software education, from primary school to PhDs. She has and continues to contribute to Lero building critical software skills for Ireland’s future workforce.
“Prof Richardson has been part of Lero since its foundation and will play a crucial function leading software research teams who continue to support academia, industry, the public sector and society in general,” Prof Briand added.
Prof Richardson said that Lero has been an important part of her academic career to date, allowing her to build national and international research relationships.
“I have seen the benefits of being part of a strong, internationally-recognised research centre and learned from those who have gone before me. I want to support researchers and students, particularly those starting their careers, ensuring they benefit from being part of Lero,” she said.