Increasing evidence of women’s under-representation in some scientific disciplines is prompting researchers to expand our understanding of this social phenomenon. Moreover, any countermeasures proposed to eliminate this under-representation should be tailored to the actual reasons for this different participation. Here, we take a multi-dimensional approach to assessing gender differences in science by representing scientific communities as social networks, and using data analytics, complexity science methods, and semantic methods to measure gender differences in the context, the attitude and the success of scientists. We apply this approach to four scientific communities in the two fields of computer science and information systems using the network of authors at four different conferences. For each discipline, one conference is based in Italy and attracts mostly Italians, while one conference is international in both location and participants. The present paper provides evidence against common narratives that women’s under-representation is due to women’s limited skills and/or less social centrality.

The electrical distribution network (EDN) is a critical infrastructure that plays a primary role in a person’s life. Its resilience is a primary property to be achieved in order to withstand all types of perturbations affecting their functions, thus guaranteeing service continuity in adverse conditions. Resilience arises from a combination of a number of properties and actions related to both intrinsic system technologies and management skills. This work proposes a model enabling the estimation of the EDN operational resilience. The proposed model accounts for most of the parameters influencing the resilience of the network, such as network topology, technological properties of its active elements, the SCADA systems, automation procedures and management efficiency. Results confirm that the model can appropriately handle a real network with a large dimension and provide valuable insights to electrical operators.

We report on an recent European Project aimed at assessment of suited Methodologies to measure interdependencies between the Electric and the ICT System. Based on best practices and available data, several different metrics have been defined. Depending on the methodology involved, three main types of metrics can be identified; namely “topological”; “system theory based” and “simulation based” metrics. The selected methodologies have been applied to the Roma Area electric and communication system. Results from all the different approaches are discussed. All metrics provide quantitative measures of the inter-dependence between both the two systems and their components. In addition to the established metrics, a novel “spectral” metric has been introduced specific for cascade effects. Such an innovative methodology has also been applied to the US Power Grid and results compared with those from the Roma Area.

Electrical distribution networks deliver a fundamental service to citizens. However, they are still highly vulnerable to natural hazards as well as to cyberattacks; therefore, additional commitment and investments are needed to foster their resilience. Toward that, this paper presents and proposes the use of a complex simulation model, called reconfiguration simulator (RecSIM), enabling to evaluate the effectiveness of resilience enhancement strategies for electric distribution networks and the required resources to implement them. The focus is, in particular, on one specific attribute of resilience, namely, the readiness, i.e., the promptness and efficiency to recover the service functionality after a crisis event by managing and deploying the available resources rapidly and effectively. RecSIM allows estimating how and to what extent technological, topological, and management issues might improve electrical distribution networks’ functionality after the occurrence of accidental faults, accounting for interdependency issues and reconfiguration possibilities. The viability of implementing RecSIM on a real and large urban network is showcased in the paper with reference to the study case of the electrical distribution network (EDN) of Rome city.