4.17.2004
UPDATED 4/18 Women in computing:
Eric Roberts, the keynote speaker, talked about the culture of computer science particularly pertaining to women and people of diversity. He pointed out the fact that most women have not had the experience of taking apart, putting back together, and messing with computers prior to coming to college and a comp. sci department. Most men HAVE had this experience. This automatically makes women feel behind, when often they are at par or surpassing their male peers in class.
No kidding. I remember hearing someone say in the lab that if you haven't done some of that and also done programming outside of college you shouldn't be there.
We should be funelling students into the program, not filtering. Roberts explains there is a need for IT/CS people. Many currently in the field do not even have degrees in CS, well-trained people are missing from the workforce.
When there are more students in the program the percentage of women goes up.
We need diverse people in cs. Not the stereotypical obsessed computer nerd who lives in computers. This stereotype is off-putting to women. They may leave a department for lack of community.
Personally, one of the reasons I stayed in CS was for the community of students and faculty. Especially, exemplified in the CS lab. It is our homebase, where we hang out. Even though there can be prejudices against women and especially gays voiced lately.
<Roberts' presentation>
This was certainly the best part of the conference this weekend. It explained some of the things I have been going through.
Weekend recap:
We all talked in the car the whole way down - no radio, no cd player - a first for me to not retreat into my own little world of reading and listening to music.
Reshmi and my presentation went well.
We attended other good student and faculty presentations as well.
We had to particpate in a programming contest, which to me is like forced, timed homework on a larger scale. Basically torture.
Our faculty advisor took us out for drinks on Friday night. It was great relating to him about real world stuff - reminicsing about college, talking about music, alcohol, life...
Finally the keynote speaker on the last day inspired us to go back and be good responsible programmers who are alturistic and community based.
On the way home we stopped for ice cream!
Eric Roberts, the keynote speaker, talked about the culture of computer science particularly pertaining to women and people of diversity. He pointed out the fact that most women have not had the experience of taking apart, putting back together, and messing with computers prior to coming to college and a comp. sci department. Most men HAVE had this experience. This automatically makes women feel behind, when often they are at par or surpassing their male peers in class.
No kidding. I remember hearing someone say in the lab that if you haven't done some of that and also done programming outside of college you shouldn't be there.
We should be funelling students into the program, not filtering. Roberts explains there is a need for IT/CS people. Many currently in the field do not even have degrees in CS, well-trained people are missing from the workforce.
When there are more students in the program the percentage of women goes up.
We need diverse people in cs. Not the stereotypical obsessed computer nerd who lives in computers. This stereotype is off-putting to women. They may leave a department for lack of community.
Personally, one of the reasons I stayed in CS was for the community of students and faculty. Especially, exemplified in the CS lab. It is our homebase, where we hang out. Even though there can be prejudices against women and especially gays voiced lately.
<Roberts' presentation>
This was certainly the best part of the conference this weekend. It explained some of the things I have been going through.
Weekend recap:
We all talked in the car the whole way down - no radio, no cd player - a first for me to not retreat into my own little world of reading and listening to music.
Reshmi and my presentation went well.
We attended other good student and faculty presentations as well.
We had to particpate in a programming contest, which to me is like forced, timed homework on a larger scale. Basically torture.
Our faculty advisor took us out for drinks on Friday night. It was great relating to him about real world stuff - reminicsing about college, talking about music, alcohol, life...
Finally the keynote speaker on the last day inspired us to go back and be good responsible programmers who are alturistic and community based.
On the way home we stopped for ice cream!