Friday, June 5, 2009
Still a dream: Ubiquitous Women in Technology
I recently received the following link in an email and thought I'd share some information related to this topic:
ACM-WCBH Initiative Finds Large Gender Gap in Teens Interested in Computing as a Career
Report (pdf)
"The NIC initiative began in late 2007 with a review of the question, “Why is interest in computer
science declining in U.S. colleges?” At that time, a recently published UCLA study found that the number of undergraduates choosing a computer science major was down a stunning 70% since2000.1 And according to a 2007 Computer Research Association (CRA) Taulbee Survey, therewere double-digit declines in enrollments for graduate degrees in computer science.2 Althoughit may be hard to believe, more than 80% of today’s college freshmen—the very students that grew up with computers and are now called “digital natives”—said they had no idea whatcomputer science majors actually do."
"The number of computer science majors is still not meeting projected workforce needs, and the Taulbee Survey points out that diversity in computer science programs continues to be poor. For example, just over 10% of the bachelor’s degrees were awarded to women."
Graphic related to the study (THE Journal)
RELATED
ACM's Committee on Women in Computing
Association for Women in Computing
National Center for Women & Information Technology
Woman & Information Technology By the Numbers pdf
GeekGirl Blogs
Girl Geeks.org
IEEE Women in Engineering
IEEE CIS: Women in Computational Intelligence
Engineering Pathway:
"This blog on engineering education is maintained by the Engineering Pathway, a portal to high-quality teaching and learning resources in engineering, applied science and math, computer science/information technology, and engineering technology and is designed for use by K-12 and university educators and students. The K-12 engineering curriculum uses engineering as a vehicle for the integration of hands-on science and mathematics through real-world designs and applications that inspire the creativity of youth. Users may search over K-12 engineering lessons and activities, as well as other K-12 resources, by many criteria - including content focus area, grade level and educational standards...."
The website has great resources about a multitude of topics related to engineering, computing, and related technologies. I especially liked the sections related to "broadening participation"
The Athena Factor: Reversing the Brain Drain in Science and Technology
Try Engineering.org
Not-so-related:
Interesting posts from Engineering Pathways:
Engineering Education "Today in History" Innovation in Shopping Carts
Alice Agogino, 6/4/09
Engineering Education "Today in History" Apple II Goes on Sale
Alice Agogino, 6/5/09
Ubiquitous Technologies: RTLS & Wireless Sensor Networks Summit
The RTLS & Wireless Sensor Networks Summit will be held November 3-4 in Denver, Colorado. If you are interested in ubiquitous technologies, it looks like this will be an important event.
"Reflecting the development of wireless sensors, using both traditional RFID-based technology and new mesh network-based technology, this event will explore wireless location and sensing."
Four master classes will be held during the summit:
- Introduction to Energy Harvesting & Storage for Small Electronic Devices
- Introduction to Active RFID
- Real Time Locating Systems and Wireless Sensor Networks
- Photovoltics and Printed Electronics
- What are the different types of Active tag system, their cost structure and advantages and disadvantages over passive?
- Why is this market growing much faster than RFID as a whole?
- What is the difference between traditional Active RFID, RFID enabled cellphones, Smart Active Labels/ Battery Assisted Passive tags, Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) and Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (USN) and where are they headed
- What are the different types of wireless sensors, their cost structure and advantages and disadvantage?
- What is the difference between traditional Active RFID, RFID enabled cellphones, Smart Active Labels/ Battery Assisted Passive tags, Real Time Locating Systems (RTLS) and Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (USN) and where are they headed?
- What is the dream for USN - from predicting and controlling disaster recovery to micro-climate in industrial greenhouses - and who is working on which aspect?
The New Market for Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (USN)
