Women, computing and Women, computing and women@CLwomen@CL

Mateja JamnikMateja Jamnik

Computer LaboratoryComputer Laboratory

University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge

Co-director of the Co-director of the women@CLwomen@CL projectproject

Thanks to EPSRC, Univ. of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, Thanks to EPSRC, Univ. of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, Microsoft Research, Intel Cambridge Research, CMI, OII, Newnham Microsoft Research, Intel Cambridge Research, CMI, OII, Newnham

College CambridgeCollege Cambridge

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What are the facts?What are the facts?

5% of young women are 5% of young women are considering an IT careerconsidering an IT career

22% of the UK’s 1 million 22% of the UK’s 1 million IT workforce are womenIT workforce are women

Half of UK and Oxbridge Half of UK and Oxbridge undergraduates are undergraduates are womenwomen

1 in 3 academic women 1 in 3 academic women but 1 in 5 academic men but 1 in 5 academic men aspire to leadership aspire to leadership positionspositions

Women in Women in UKUK CSCS MathMath

ss

A levelA level 26%26% 40%40%

u/gradu/grad 18%18% 39%39%

u/grad Camu/grad Cam 12.5%12.5% 21%21%

MSc + PhdMSc + Phd 27%27% 23%23%

StaffStaff 20%20% 16%16%

ProfsProfs 5%(305%(30))

3%3%

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Facts – Computer ScienceFacts – Computer Science Source: HESA data 2001-2002Source: HESA data 2001-2002 Cambridge last 3 years: 14%, up from 10% 10 Cambridge last 3 years: 14%, up from 10% 10

years ago (10% for home u/gs, 50% for overseas)years ago (10% for home u/gs, 50% for overseas)

12.50%

22.31%19.44%

16.57%15.07% 14.95%

13.29%

0.00%

5.00%

10.00%

15.00%

20.00%

25.00%

Women

Cambridge

Oxford

Southampton

Manchester

Imperial

York

Edinburgh

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Facts – MathsFacts – Maths

Source: HESA data 2003-2004Source: HESA data 2003-2004 National: 38.71% femaleNational: 38.71% female

20.87%

42.61%41.25%37.61%

34.21%30.82%

28.05%

0.00%5.00%10.00%15.00%20.00%25.00%30.00%35.00%40.00%45.00%

Women

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Why so bad in UK?Why so bad in UK? Poor image of computing:Poor image of computing:

Schools: accessible and gender neutral, but often boring and equated with office skills

Work: negative images such as nerdy, aggressive, dull

Failure to communicate:Failure to communicate: What computer science is

and why it is important Computing can be exciting,

rewarding, challenging; can lead to social careers; accommodates career breaks, flexible working

The variety of clearly differentiated computing careers Failure to retain:Failure to retain:

students and staff due to unconscious bias, lack of positive and supportive culture

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Does it matter?Does it matter? To individualsTo individuals

Loss of opportunity

To employersTo employers Loss of talent Despite tech slump/outsourcing, increase in demand for staff

To UniversitiesTo Universities Major US corporation 2005: If we recruit to CS posts only

from CS graduates we can’t meet our diversity targets Access, Equal Opportunities, RAE....

UK legal positionUK legal position Positive discrimination is illegal Positive action is legal and encouraged Increasing provision for flexible working, parental leave etc Codes of practice, union agreements ...

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What can be done? Good What can be done? Good practice!practice!

Carnegie Carnegie Mellon Project: women up from 10% to 47% over Mellon Project: women up from 10% to 47% over 5 years5 years Long-term outreach to schools and teachers on APT New entry criteria seek “Technology leaders of the future” Remove inadvertent barriers – eg overvaluing systems skills Parallel tracks through 1st year to aid confidence building

UC Berkeley projectUC Berkeley project Change climate through supportive atmosphere for women Fostering community, alumni relations and PhD retention Women students best ambassadors in recruitment

LinuxChix and Debian WomenLinuxChix and Debian Women For women in open source community - combat aggressive

stanceAll people will be comfortable and feel able to ask questions or comment at any time. People will feel that the channel is a sociable and friendly place.

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What else can be done?What else can be done?

DTI study: women leave IT at 2 stages, after DTI study: women leave IT at 2 stages, after children and mid-career, hencechildren and mid-career, hence advocate flexible working, change in culture what’s good for women is good for everybody

SIGIS EU project: recommends for UKSIGIS EU project: recommends for UK mentoring, support, opportunities for networking women be supported and valued, but no special

treatment positive action programmes can cause hostility women often like applications and interdisciplinary

work changing image to attract different kind of people one size does not fit all

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women@CLwomen@CL 2003 women@CL launched at Cambridge Uni. 2003 women@CL launched at Cambridge Uni.

Computer Laboratory with support from Microsoft Computer Laboratory with support from Microsoft Research and IntelResearch and Intel

2004 national women@CL network, 2004 national women@CL network, funded by EPSRC: co-directors funded by EPSRC: co-directors Prof. Ursula Martin and Prof. Ursula Martin and Dr Mateja JamnikDr Mateja Jamnik

www.cl.cam.ac.ukwww.cl.cam.ac.uk/women/women Cambridge ideal place with long history: 1949 Beatrice Cambridge ideal place with long history: 1949 Beatrice

Worsley first woman PhD for computational workWorsley first woman PhD for computational work

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women@CL – Beatrice women@CL – Beatrice WorsleyWorsley

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women@CLwomen@CL women@CL provides local, national and international women@CL provides local, national and international

activities for women engaged in computing research activities for women engaged in computing research and academic leadershipand academic leadership

Goal: support women and increase recruitment and Goal: support women and increase recruitment and retention, sustainable across a complex institutionretention, sustainable across a complex institution

Funding bodies, sponsors and supporters: with thanks Funding bodies, sponsors and supporters: with thanks totoEPSRC, Microsoft Research Cambridge, Intel Cambridge EPSRC, Microsoft Research Cambridge, Intel Cambridge Research, University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, Research, University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, Newnham College Cambridge, Cambridge-MIT Institute, Oxford Newnham College Cambridge, Cambridge-MIT Institute, Oxford Internet Institute, British Computer SocietyInternet Institute, British Computer Society

Prominent support of Univ. of Cambridge’s world Prominent support of Univ. of Cambridge’s world leading department vital to send signal of importanceleading department vital to send signal of importance

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women@CL – Cambridgewomen@CL – Cambridge Consultation with women staff and students:Consultation with women staff and students:

isolated, valued support but not to be seen as “different”

Review undergraduate recruitment:Review undergraduate recruitment: course already stresses interdisciplinarity, applications and

entrepreneurship, but is very poorly presented and marketed, with confusion over entry requirements

Formal connection with existing bodies with similar goals:Formal connection with existing bodies with similar goals: Equality and Diversity Unit: recruitment officers, Springboard Raised awareness of legislation and good practice

Set up web pages, FAQs, mailing lists, data collectionSet up web pages, FAQs, mailing lists, data collection

women@CL lunches: provide women role modelswomen@CL lunches: provide women role models

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women@CL Cambridge - women@CL Cambridge - LunchesLunches

Provide early-career women role Provide early-career women role models in academic research, industry models in academic research, industry or start-ups:or start-ups: Speakers from Univ. of Cambridge, Intel,

MSR, Google, IBM, biotech entrepreneurs, Goldman Sachs, Oman, Canada, USA,…

Women in Gaming event:Women in Gaming event: explore issues surrounding women in

games industry, as both producers and consumers of games and game-related media

play videogames on variety of consoles Careers workshops:Careers workshops:

applying for jobs in academia and industry Free lunch, chocolate cake, open to all, Free lunch, chocolate cake, open to all,

high attendance, 50-50 women-menhigh attendance, 50-50 women-men

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women@CL - UKwomen@CL - UK Career development workshops at major conferences:

IJCAI 2005, W3C 2006, HCI 2006 Regional Hoppers meetings for women in computing:

London, Manchester, Scotland Senior Women’s Leadership Summit in 2005 and 2007:

Newnham College Cambridge Childcare Initiative

Evaluation, media training, ensuring visibility of women

Visions of the future initiative with BCS, OII

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women@CL UK - Career women@CL UK - Career WorkshopsWorkshops

Mission Statement:Mission Statement: To be of relevance to women in computing To be of relevance to women in computing research, providing a forum for the interchange of ideas for successful research, providing a forum for the interchange of ideas for successful academic careers, to address the particular needs of professional academic careers, to address the particular needs of professional women and to provide an opportunity for peer networking.women and to provide an opportunity for peer networking.

Talks by women at various stages in their career about:Talks by women at various stages in their career about:

how to apply for grants how to apply for fellowships work-life balance funding opportunities mentoring and email lists

support

their work and how they got there the opportunities encountered how to choose an independent

research area and build a team how to apply for a PhD how to apply for an industrial job

Discussion periodsDiscussion periods Networking opportunitiesNetworking opportunities

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women@CL UK – Hoppers women@CL UK – Hoppers WorkshopsWorkshops

Regional meetings for women in Regional meetings for women in computing research from Masters level up.computing research from Masters level up.

Technical talksTechnical talks

Career planning:Career planning: What makes a good research leader?

It can be hard, but worth it to make a differenceIt can be hard, but worth it to make a difference Identify some challenges for computing

research in 2015? Sustainability, ageing population, maintaining Sustainability, ageing population, maintaining

humanityhumanity What would help you to become a research

leader? Mentoring, support, opportunities like this.Mentoring, support, opportunities like this.

Networking (and lunch).Networking (and lunch).

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women@CL UK – Childcare women@CL UK – Childcare SchemeScheme

Many academics are prevented from attending Many academics are prevented from attending conferences due to extra costs for childcare.conferences due to extra costs for childcare.

women@CL supplementary grant of £150 towards women@CL supplementary grant of £150 towards extra childcare costs while at CS related extra childcare costs while at CS related conference.conference.

Open to everyone, staff or student, female or Open to everyone, staff or student, female or male at UK University doing computer science male at UK University doing computer science research.research.

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Lessons LearntLessons Learnt

What is making this initiative a success?What is making this initiative a success? Support from the top in Cambridge Univ. and sponsors Dedicated senior staff time and admin support Enthusiastic staff and student team

What’s good for women is good for everyoneWhat’s good for women is good for everyone

What do we need next?What do we need next? Major campaign to change the image of computer science Improve presentation and understanding in schools Grand challenges exercise to create visions of future

research Find exciting worthwhile ways to develop leadership skills BCS to take the lead and coordinate all this

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Other Initiatives: AwardsOther Initiatives: Awards

Athena award for IT in support of women in Athena award for IT in support of women in sciencescience

BCS awards for companies working for women in BCS awards for companies working for women in ITIT

Astar awards: best girl in ICT A level and GCSEAstar awards: best girl in ICT A level and GCSE

BCS Roger Needham award BCS Roger Needham award

BCS CPHC Distinguished Dissertation awardBCS CPHC Distinguished Dissertation award

BCS Young IT practitioner awardBCS Young IT practitioner award

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Other Initiatives: CC4GOther Initiatives: CC4G

Around 100 clubs for 10-14 year old girls, rolling Around 100 clubs for 10-14 year old girls, rolling out nationally, linked to national curriculumout nationally, linked to national curriculum

CC4G is all about making technology fun. CC4G is all about making technology fun.

We leave all the boring stuff to the boysWe leave all the boring stuff to the boys..

www.cc4g.netwww.cc4g.net Link CC4G schools near Cambridge with Link CC4G schools near Cambridge with

women@CLwomen@CL

EPSRC PPA Sodarace for schools, pilot with CC4GEPSRC PPA Sodarace for schools, pilot with CC4G

www.sodarace.netwww.sodarace.net

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Other Initiatives: BCSOther Initiatives: BCS

Establish Forum:Establish Forum: to coordinate women/diversity initiatives to think about image of the profession teaching of computing in schools

New future initiative in collaboration with BCS and New future initiative in collaboration with BCS and OII, to ensure the sustainability and continuity of OII, to ensure the sustainability and continuity of women@CL.women@CL.

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Thank you!Thank you!

www.cl.cam.ac.uk/womenwww.cl.cam.ac.uk/women

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My ExperienceMy Experience

UWC Italy; Math and Computer Studies, Canada; UWC Italy; Math and Computer Studies, Canada; Master Cambridge; PhD in Artificial Intelligence Master Cambridge; PhD in Artificial Intelligence Edinburgh Edinburgh

EPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship, Cambridge UniEPSRC Advanced Research Fellowship, Cambridge Uni Lectureship (Associate Prof), Cambridge UniLectureship (Associate Prof), Cambridge Uni

Research: formalizing on machines “informal” human Research: formalizing on machines “informal” human problem solving techniques (eg, using diagrams)problem solving techniques (eg, using diagrams)

Work/Life: married, 2 children, working part-time 50%Work/Life: married, 2 children, working part-time 50%

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Computer ScienceComputer Science

MenMen WomenWomen TotalTotal % women% women

University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge 385385 5555 440440 12.50%12.50%

University of OxfordUniversity of Oxford 470470 135135 605605 22.31%22.31%

University of University of SouthamptonSouthampton

435435 105105 540540 19.44%19.44%

University of University of ManchesterManchester

730730 145145 875875 16.57%16.57%

Imperial CollegeImperial College 620620 110110 730730 15.07%15.07%

University of YorkUniversity of York 455455 8080 535535 14.95%14.95%

University of EdinburghUniversity of Edinburgh 620620 9595 715715 13.29%13.29%

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MathsMaths

Men Women Total % women

University of Cambridge 910 240 1150 20.87%

University of Southampton

330 245 575 42.61%

University of Edinburgh 235 165 400 41.25%

University of Manchester

340 205 545 37.61%

University of York 250 130 380 34.21%

Imperial College 505 225 730 30.82%

University of Oxford 795 310 1105 28.05%