RedCLARA News - 2004/2010
- Tania Altamirano L.
Ida Holz received the LACNIC Outstanding Achievement Award 2
Holz, who is Director of the Uruguayan Academic Network (Red Académica Uriguaya, RAU) and Secretary of the CLARA Directory, was chosen for her permanent contribution during the past 20 years to the development of ICTs in Latin America and for her commendable work, not only for the concrete results she has achieved but also for the example it sets for the entire community.
The Latin American and Caribean Internet Adresses Registry, LACNIC announced the first edition of the Outstanding Achievement Award (2009) presented to Mrs. Ida Holz, Head of the Central Computer Service of the University of the Republic, Uruguay, Director of the Uruguayan Academic Network (Red Académica Uriguaya, RAU) and Secretary of the CLARA Board.
The Outstanding Achievement Award is a LACNIC initiative that aims at honoring and rewarding those individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of the Internet and the Information Society in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Holz Outstanding Achievements
In the early 1970s, Ida Holz was part of the first generation to graduate with a university degree in Computer Engineering from the University of the Republic - an institution where she continues to work to this day. This would signal what she has been during her entire life: a pioneer.
In 1987 she took charge of the position she holds to this day. From that position she began developing the Uruguayan Academic Network and later, in the early 90s, its connection to the Internet. Ida has played a key role in the development and evolution of ICTs in Uruguay. Since 2005, she is a member of the Board of Directors of AGESIC (the Uruguayan Agency for the Information Society), from where she has actively contributed to the success of the "Plan Ceibal", the Uruguayan version of the "One laptop per child" program.
Although Ida's role in Uruguay has been extremely relevant, her most significant contributions have been at regional level. During the early 1990s, she was part of the group of regional Internet pioneers whose collaborative efforts in search for critical mass and cooperation made possible the development of the first national networks that served as a basis for the development of what has become the Internet in Latin America.
Ida has been untiring in her efforts to maintain communication between Internet promoters, builders and operators in Latin America and the Caribbean so that they can come together and work in cooperation, contributing technical knowledge and spirit of collaboration, and prioritizing community service.
Thus, together with other colleagues whose contribution has also been extremely valuable, Ida has been a part of the region's major organizational ventures. She played a leading role in the construction of the Latin American Network Forum, the Latin American and Caribbean Internet Address Registry (LACNIC), the organization of Latin American and Caribbean ccTLDs (LACTLD), and the Latin American Cooperation of Advanced Networks (CLARA). Her activity has always been marked by her great dedication, devotion and commitment.
Ida Holz has been a relevant individual who during the past 20 years has permanently contributed to the development of ICTs in Latin America. The relevance of her work is commendable, not only for the concrete results she has achieved but also for the example it sets for the entire community.
Honorary Mention
In addition, the Judging Panel, made up by Raimundo Beca from Chile, Sylvia Cadena from Colombia, Jesús Martínez from Cuba, Alejandro Pisanty from Mexico and José Soriano from Peru, has decided to award a posthumous honorary mention to researcher Mrs. Amy Mahan in recognition of her contribution to the development of the Internet, just a few months after her passing.
Amy was a noted scientific researcher, technical editor, writer, consultant and coordinator of different initiatives relating to communication technologies for development. Originally from San Francisco, USA, her career was marked by her participation in global and regional initiatives, by her support of different projects and initiatives around the world, by her commitment to the right to information and communication as the basis for social and human development, and by her collaborative work at international level.
She has left a legacy to our region in each one of her contributions to the investigation of new information and communication technologies, digital inclusion and the use of emerging technologies in digital inclusion, with dozens of research projects devoted to the analysis of regionally relevant proposals published by LIRNE and COMUNICA; her support of the creation and development of networks such as DIRSI; and her struggle for regulators and regulations to use metrics that are more adjusted to the reality of our countries and a poor man's perspective, published in her works for RegulateOnline, which undoubtedly represent a significant advance for Latin America and the Caribbean.
On May 5, 2009, Amy Mahan died in Montevideo at the age of 47, at the peak of her professional career, after a brief battle against cancer. She is survived by her partner Bruce Girard and her daughter Danielle.
Prizes and Notification
The prize for this first edition of the award will consist of a representative prize plus the amount of U$S 5 000 and will be presented in the city of Rio de Janeiro during the 2009 Preparatory Meeting for the Internet Governance Forum on August 12 to 14.
For more information about LACNIC Outstanding Achievement Award 2009, visit: http://lacnic.net/en/anuncios/2009_ConvocatoriaTrayectoria.html
