Nieves Rodríguez Brisaboa, researcher at CITIC of the University of A Coruña (UDC) and full professor of Languages and Computer Systems, will receive the Enrique Vidal Abascal Medal in the Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science section awarded by the Royal Galician Academy of Sciences (RAGC).

The scientific institution has announced the five recipients of the 2025 Research Medals, three of whom belong to the University of A Coruña. The awards ceremony will take place on October 8 in Santiago de Compostela during the academic event celebrating the Galician Science Day.

Pioneering career in Computer Science

Nieves Rodríguez Brisaboa has more than 30 years of research experience focused on the development of compact algorithms and data structures for processing large volumes of information. In 1996, she founded the Database Laboratory at UDC, where she also promoted a research line in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

As a result of this research, she led pioneering projects such as the GIS system for the A Coruña Provincial Council, the Galician Virtual Library, the Virtual Journey Through Galicia, the RAG Virtual Newspaper Library, and the Survey of Local Infrastructure and Equipment, which is currently used by several provincial councils to manage assets related to transport, water supply, electricity, public buildings, and urban planning. She also directed the development of the e-administration system for the Galician Institute of Housing and Land (IGVS).

In 2019, she received the SCIE-BBVA National Computer Science Award. In addition, she led 44 technology transfer contracts with companies such as Indra, Yahoo, and Grupo Prisa, public administrations, and social and cultural institutions, with a total budget exceeding 3.7 million euros. In 2003, she promoted the creation of the spin-off Enxenio, which today employs more than 40 people and exceeds 2 million euros in annual revenue.

Female role model in the STEM field

Nieves Brisaboa highlights that this recognition has special significance: “Every time a woman’s excellence is recognized in a field where few have stood out, it helps to encourage more women to pursue careers in that area. Given the current shortage of women in STEM disciplines in general and in Computer Science in particular, I hope this medal, which for the first time is awarded to a woman in the field of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science, will help open the path for more women in the future.”

Other UDC awardees

Alongside Nieves Brisaboa, two other researchers from the University of A Coruña have also been recognized:

• Francisco J. Blanco García, full professor of Rheumatology at UDC and head of the Clinical and Translational Rheumatology Section at CHUAC, will receive the Ángeles Alvariño González Medal in the Biology and Health Sciences section for his pioneering work in applying artificial intelligence to the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases
• Mª Carmen Veiga Barbazán, full professor of Chemical Engineering, has been recognized with the Antonio Casares Rodríguez Medal in the Chemistry and Geology section for her advances in environmental biotechnology and the recovery of high-value compounds from wastewater.

The list of awardees is completed by Laura Carballo and Juan Mª Pou from the University of Vigo.