Bridging the gender gap in IT – challenges and solutions
The IT University of Copenhagen is pleased to invite policymakers, stakeholders from the Danish IT business and research communities and all who are interested in promoting gender diversity to join us for a conference addressing the gender gap in the IT sector on May 29, 2017 from 9:00 to 12:45. Registration opens at 8:30.
"Gender equality and women’s empowerment will not be achieved without science, technology, and innovation and conversely these fields will suffer without the benefit of women’s talents, perspectives, and knowledge."
- Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women
The underrepresentation of girls and women in IT education, research and in the workforce is hardly news any longer. Although women played a big role in shaping the field of computing and continue to be important players in the industry, the gender gap in the IT sector has been steadily increasing, in Denmark as well as in many other countries.
Promoting gender diversity in IT means not only engaging more girls and women to become makers of technology, but also promoting leadership, supporting the career advancement of female researchers, and challenging gender stereotypes and bias.
Our international and Danish speakers will explore the complex dimensions surrounding the gender gap in the IT sector, challenge common assumptions and inspire actionable solutions.
We believe that women and men should have equal voice when creating value with IT.
Participation is free of charge and only requires signing up here.
PROGRAM:
8:30 - 8:55
| Registration |
9:00 - 9:10
| Introduction and welcome by Mads Tofte and Lene Pries-Heje |
9:10 - 9:40
| Ida Kragh-Vodstrup
Consultant, the Digital Task Force at Confederation of Danish Industry, Denmark.
The need for digital competencies: Why Danish businesses need women in IT |
9:40 - 10:10
| Linda Sax
Professor of Higher Education in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, UCLA. Principal investigator for the BRAID initiative (Building, Recruiting and Inclusion for Diversity), USA.
The gender gap in computer science: Perspectives and research from the United States |
10:10 - 10:40
| Zachary Dodds
Associate Professor of Computer Science, Harvey Mudd College, USA.
Computer science for all: interventions and lessons learned at Harvey Mudd College |
10:40 - 11:00
| Coffee break |
11:00 - 11:30
| Eva Sophia Myers
Project Leader of FESTA, EU Research Project on Female Empowerment in Science and Technology in Academia, University of Southern Denmark.
Experiences from FESTA: changing perspective from fixing the women to fixing the system |
11:30 - 12:00
| Charlotte Mark
Managing Director, Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen, Denmark.
Achieving more with technology - Women wanted |
12:00 - 12:30
| Phoenix Perry
Founder, Code Liberation Foundation, USA/UK.
Keeping women happy in STEM education – The importance of community |
12:30 - 12:45
| Closing remarks
|
If you have any questions send us an email at wit@itu.dk.
The event will be live streamed here:
Speakers:
Linda Sax
Linda SaxLinda J. Sax is Professor of Higher Education in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies at UCLA. Dr. Sax’s research focuses on gender differences in college student development, with an emphasis on women in STEM fields. She is currently the Principal Investigator for the research component of the BRAID initiative aimed at diversifying the computer science major. Dr. Sax is the author of more than 100 publications, including The Gender Gap in College: Maximizing the Developmental Potential of Women and Men.
Zachary Dodds
Zachary Dodds
Zachary Dodds is the Leonard-Johnson-Rae Professor of Computer Science at Harvey Mudd College. His interests include computing accessibility and curricula that promote computing's role beyond Computer Science (CS). He co-created introductory undergraduate CS curricula that engages students in exploring computing's range, power, and impact on society. He also expanded that effort into precollege education via MyCS, a Middle-years Computer Science curriculum, adopted by a growing number of US middle-school classrooms and districts.
Phoenix Perry
Phoenix Perry
Phoenix Perry creates physical games and user experiences. A consummate advocate for women in game development, she founded Code Liberation Foundation. This organization teaches women to program games for free. Since starting in 2012, this project has reached over 2000 women in the New York area between the ages of 16 to 60. Fostering professional growth and mentoring new leaders in the field, she strives to infuse the industry with new voices. As principal founder in Dozen Eyes Games, a company producing works for social change and interactive installations, she also is an entrepreneur. In her role at Goldsmiths, University of London, she lecturers on Physical Computing and games and is starting a new MA in Independent Games and Experience Design.
Charlotte Mark
Charlotte Mark
Charlotte Mark is the Managing Director at Microsoft Development Center Copenhagen. She joined Microsoft in 2004 following a career with Accenture working with leading Danish and international companies. Charlotte earned her MA in Human Centered Informatics from Aalborg University in 1990. She holds several trusted positions focusing on increasing the talent pool in Denmark and attracting highly-skilled international talent. These include Engineer the Future and Jet-net focusing on getting more young people and girls in particular to choose a STEM career, Consortium for Global Talent, and DIS - International Studies Abroad.
Eva Sophia Myers
Eva Sophia MyersEva Sophia Myers is Head of Strategic Organizational Development, Faculty of Science at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU). She has a background in linguistics, psychology, organizational consulting and goldsmithing and served as Head of Dean’s Office at SDU for six years prior to her present position. Her main professional interest is how to embed approaches that allow for diversity and inclusion in a university setting. Eva Sophia has led several organizational projects at SDU and from 2012 to 2017 was project leader of the Danish team in the EU FP7 gender implementation project FESTA - Female Empowerment in Science and Technology Academia.
Ida Kragh-Vodstrup
Ida Kragh-Vodstrup
Ida Kragh-Vodstrup is part of the Digital Task Force at the Confederation of Danish Industry. She has led several political strategy projects, with the objective of digitalizing businesses and promoting the Danish startup scene. With a background in political science and business administration, Ida has six years of experience from central government working for optimal conditions for businesses. She has a strong focus on the need for digital competencies in companies and the need for diversity in the workforce.