Who Will Do the Science of the Future? A Symposium on Careers of Women in Science (2000) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Plenary II: An In-Depth View of Computer Science
Plenary II: An In-Depth View of Computer Science
Pages 29-42
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 29... ...
He is on leave from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville where he is the AT&T Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Among his activities at the university were a complete revision of the undergraduate computer science curriculum, research on computer architecture and computer security, and an effort to assist humanities scholars to exploit information technology.
|
From page 30... ...
She serves as the Director of the International Institute of Forecasters and is on the Advisory Boards of the National Institute for Science Education and the Douglas Project for Women in Math, Science and Engineering at Rutgers University.
|
From page 31... ...
, and then I will present findings from one particular study. The total number of baccalaureate degrees in computer science awarded peaked in the mid1980s at about 40,000 (Figure 4~.
|
From page 32... ...
At my own university, the University of Virginia, the number of undergraduates in computer science has roughly quadrupled in the last six or seven years. The same phenomenon is occurring at other colleges and universities.
|
From page 33... ...
Some of my colleagues would like to promulgate the idea that the decline is because students figured out computer science was hard, and that it wasn't an easy major. The data on Ph.D.
|
From page 34... ...
Currently, the percentage of women receiving baccalaureate degrees in computer science is about 28 percent. That percentage is not uniformly distributed among departments.
|
From page 35... ...
The researchers are not looking at the number of women who enter computer science, but rather at the number who entered, and then for one reason or another transferred out. Since the researchers don't know who didn't apply, they are using the transfer-out rate as a surrogate for why students didn't enroll in the first place.
|
From page 36... ...
We need to gather data to allow us to understand the reasons underlying both the fluctuations in interest and the different motivating factors that attract students to computer science. With such an understanding, Women (n=32)
|
From page 37... ...
. women In computer science: experience, motivation and culture," in ACM SIGCSE Technical Symposium, February 1997.
|
From page 38... ...
My characterization of how women are doing in information technology and computer science in industry is that there is good news and bad news. In the previous presentation describing the declining percentage of women obtaining computer science degrees, Dr.
|
From page 39... ...
We then have fewer women with computer science degrees.
|
From page 40... ...
Her work has allowed networks to grow and provide immediate connectivity when new users and machines were added. The second part of the good news is, I believe, that information technology in industry is turning into a good place for women.
|
From page 41... ...
These rankings help hold companies accountable and true to their words. In closing, my message is that a curriculum centered around technical understanding of the computer and computer software pushes away too many girls and women, although it does not push away some women who remain involved and excel.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.