Type of Talk: UTCS & Center for Women''s & Gender
Studies Colloquium

Speaker Name/Affiliation: Jan Cuny Ph.D./Natio

nal Science Foundation

Date/Time: Friday October 5 2007 at 3:30

p.m.

Location: ACES 2.302

Talk Title: G

ender Balance in Computing: Can''t We Do Better?

Talk Abstract:
Information technology is increasingly pervasive in all aspects of society
yet women play a relatively small role in its creation. For many reasons

%96 perhaps because of the nerd factor or an early disinterest in gaming

or a misunderstanding of the potential for IT careers %96 women are signifi

cantly underrepresented across the entire IT pipeline. This is despite twen

ty-five years of efforts aimed at increasing their participation. In fact

during recent decades Computer Science was the only science to show a mark

ed decrease in the representation of women.

Why does this gender im

balance matter? Why is it of particular importance now? What will we have t

o do to change it? This talk examines evidence for the causes of the underr

epresentation of women in computing as well as potential remedies includin

g those funded under a new National Science Foundation initiative. It sugge

sts strategies that individuals departments and institutions can employ.<