Kimberly Blessing is a computer scientist, a Web developer, a standards evangelist, a feminist, and a geek. This is where she writes about life, technology, women's issues, and whatever else comes to mind.
Yes, I wish I were talking about Hillary! But I’m not.
Instead I’m talking about the ACM elections, and the woman I’m referring to is Wendy Hall, CBE, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the British Computer Society, co-founding director of the Web Science Research Initiative, and (if you couldn’t tell) one of my role models. So the votes have been counted and, come July 1, Wendy will also serve a two-year term as President of the ACM. Congratulations!
And speaking of GHC, I also need to mention that registration for the 2008 conference is now open! After so many years of attending, stalking Telle Whitney, and volunteering, this year I’m finally going to be speaking on a panel! (Go me!) So, don’t miss this opportunity to interact with thousands of smart, successful, techie women — including Fran Allen!
Five ACM experts have contributed to the twelfth edition of Deborah Morley’s college textbook, Understanding Computers: Today & Tomorrow. One of them, Chandra Krintz, Vice Chair of the ACM Special Interest Group on Programming Languages, answered the question, Are programming skills necessary to be a Web site developer today?
Yes, more than ever. Web sites today are dynamic, interactive, complex, and highly adaptive to appeal to the specific and changing needs of the individual users and consumers that constitute today’s competitive commercial markets and popular Web communities. Programming languages have evolved to support existing and emerging Web technologies. Developers today must be able to use effectively a wide range of high-level programming language technologies, such as Java, AJAX, Ruby/Rails, Python, ASP.Net, and PHP, and to adapt quickly to new languages, frameworks, and practices. Programming expertise enables developers to implement efficiently dynamic Web page content, as well as the distributed and layered systems through which Web pages interact with databases and other back-end applications. In addition, strong and marketable programming skills today include team-based work styles and pair programming, test-driven program deployment, agile workplaces, and use of visual and interactive development environments. Programming skills are key to the success, productivity, and satisfaction of today’s Web developers.
Due to my responsibilities on the Executive Board of the Bryn Mawr College Alumnae Association, I had the good fortune of being on campus on Friday, February 8, when the Board of Trustees appointed Jane Dammen McAuliffe as the President-Elect. Furthermore, the Executive Board had the pleasure of hosting Jane, and her husband, Dennis, for lunch on Saturday.
After a round of introductions and lunch, Jane gave us a brief bio, then spoke about her impressions of the College and what she anticipates focusing on after she arrives.
One of the first things she said, with a look that I’d describe as astonished admiration, was, “This is a place that takes the life of the mind seriously!” Of course, that brought a smile to every face in the room, as that’s exactly how we know and why we love our College. In citing that Bryn Mawr is “educating the leadership of places all over the world,” she was almost certainly referring to alumna Drew Gilpin Faust ‘68, who is now President of Harvard University, and recognizing our tradition of producing strong female leaders.
“J-Mac”, as she’s already being called by students, recognized Bryn Mawr’s “extraordinary tradition of producing science graduates”, as well as its production of non-science majors that are well-versed in the sciences. “Science literacy has become a sine qua non to be a good citizen”, she emphasized, and nearly all of my fellow alumnae in the room nodded or voiced their agreement.
So, it appears that President-Elect McAuliffe came, saw, and conquered Bryn Mawr — I, for one, look forward to her tenure.
I’ve been monitoring the flap at ComputerWorld over a post about the employ of scantily-clad women at a booth at ITXpo, and I have to say that, after plenty of dismissive responses from many male readers, it’s nice to see that some men will acknowledge how difficult it can be for women in IT. Mark Golden, a ComputerWorld reader, writes:
I’m male and heterosexual, and as far as I’m concerned, any man who doesn’t notice the rampant sexism in this industry needs to have his brain replaced. IT workers must be the raunchiest, dirtiest bunch of overgrown adolescents in the nation… The whole IT culture of gender disparity and social inadequacy infects everything… A woman in a technical position in the IT industry needs more than talent and ability; she needs skin like steel.
What’s even better is that Don Tennant, Editorial Director of ComputerWorld and author of the post that kicked off the hoopla, takes the issue a step further:
I have such a high regard for the IT profession and the leading role it takes in improving our lives that I do indeed feel strongly that it should be a leading advocate for the eradication of all forms of social injustice as well. Does that mean I feel the IT profession is “above these things?” Yes, it certainly does. Then again, I think every profession should be above practices that are dismissive of women or any other group within the profession.
Mr. Tennant even posted an e-mail from reader Rita Thissen (who is also a fellow member of Systers), which should be pretty eye-opening for anyone who doesn’t think that women have issues to deal with in the IT industry.
I’ve always felt fortunate to have come up in IT in predominantly female environments — due in part to having attended and worked at a women’s college, and perhaps also due to the fact that I have worked mostly on the East Coast, where there are more women in IT. But still, I have encountered some pretty blatant sexual harassment… fortunately, my “skin of steel” helped me get through those negative situations without me losing any of the passion I have for my career in technology.
Study: Girls equal to boys in math skills I'm a bit late on tagging this story, but for those that missed it: in the largest study of its kind, researchers found no difference in the math scores of boys and girls -- not even in high school. Women are now earning 48% of undergrad degrees in math.
Big Think - We Are What You Think Interviews with today's leading thinkers, movers and shakers, searchable by question or by topic. Users can also respond with their own video commentary.
Use the Best Available Ampersand SimpleBits has created some charts depicting the more interesting italic ampersands available as default fonts on both Windows and Mac.
A visual message for peace Presentation Zen points us to "I Met the Walrus", a 6 minute film that visually narrates John Lennon's message of peace. Links to other Lennon/Beatles peace-related messages also featured.
After a round of introductions and lunch, Jane gave us a brief bio, then spoke about her impressions of the College and what she anticipates focusing on after she arrives.
