The tech industry is currently widely regarded as one of the most innovative and progressive fields, yet even with all of its achievements and perks it has to offer, it continues to grapple with a long-standing issue: the underrepresentation of women. Despite the growing demand for diverse perspectives in the creation and development of modern technology, women remain significantly underrepresented in Computer Science (CS) and engineering. Currently, while the overall percentage of female degree recipients is 53.1%, women make up only 20% of the CS degree holders and 22% of the engineering degree holders. Many argue that this imbalance in percentages stems from the inherent disinterest or unsuitability of women in the tech industry. In 2017, James Damore, a Software Engineer at Google at the time, wrote a memo where he urged the company to stop trying to bring women into tech, because they are inherently unsuitable for the industry, and thus, these efforts just waste everyone’s attention and company’s resources (Damore, 2017). In his argument, Damore referred to the field of Evolutionary Psychology as support for his claims, suggesting that differences in career preferences and abilities between men and women are rooted in biological and psychological traits shaped by evolution.

The NPA Annual Conference is the largest national conference and networking event dedicated to the postdoctoral community. Attendees of the conference - postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, administrators, faculty members, and representatives from disciplinary societies, industry, and corporations - are offered a unique platform for fostering their professional development and honing their leadership abilities.

The AWIS Virtual Career Fair is designed for individuals at various stages of their professional journey. Whether you’re seeking a fresh career challenge, aiming for your first or next leadership role, transitioning from academia to industry, or simply exploring new opportunities, our event caters to diverse aspirations: Professionals in science or related STEM fields seeking exciting career prospects; Students eager to embark on their professional journey; Professionals keen on discovering avenues for career advancement and growth. The Virtual Career Fair will take place March 13, 2025 from 1 – 4 p.m. ET.

The Master of Advanced Study in Engineering (MAS-E) on Coursera is Berkeley Engineering’s first fully online master’s program. Because learning on Coursera includes flexible experiences, like on-demand lectures for desktop and mobile that students can watch anytime and anywhere, working professionals can earn their MAS-E around their schedule and on their timeline. With added flexibility from self-paced, one-credit courses, MAS-E students can graduate in one year or as many as four years. Current engineers can advance their careers with the knowledge and skills they gain from the MAS-E. These students can apply to the program with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related STEM field. Others can pursue their MAS-E even if they’ve been working in an unrelated field, switching their career to engineering after earning this degree. These students can apply to the program by showing they have a quantitative or technical background and the math prerequisites to succeed in graduate-level engineering courses. Once enrolled in the MAS-E program, students tailor their learning to fit their professional goals by building their experience out of the one-credit courses that comprise the curriculum, focusing on the technology areas that most interest them.

Do you have what it takes to win Science’s “Dance Your Ph.D.” competition? As the kangaroo-friendly researcher who was last year’s winner showed, where there’s a will (and a thesis) there’s a dance. As always, we’re challenging scientists to explain their research obsession with fancy footwork, but no PowerPoint slides or jargon. It doesn’t matter whether you’re just starting your Ph.D. or you completed it decades ago; you just need imagination and the ability to keep a beat. The annual contest, in its 17th year and now sponsored by the artificial intelligence and quantum technology company SandboxAQ, features four traditional categories (physics, biology, chemistry, and social science) plus a special category on AI research and quantum science. Winners in each category take home $750. The overall winner gets an extra $2000. In the special category, the dance doesn’t have to be on a personal Ph.D. thesis, but it should still convey a paper, a talk, or research project on AI research and quantum science. Beyond that, it’s simple. Go dance some science, create a video of it, and upload it to YouTube. The deadline for submissions is 28 March 2025.ag

The Master of Advanced Study in Engineering (MAS-E) on Coursera is Berkeley Engineering’s first fully online master’s program. Because learning on Coursera includes flexible experiences, like on-demand lectures for desktop and mobile that students can watch anytime and anywhere, working professionals can earn their MAS-E around their schedule and on their timeline. With added flexibility from self-paced, one-credit courses, MAS-E students can graduate in one year or as many as four years. Current engineers can advance their careers with the knowledge and skills they gain from the MAS-E. These students can apply to the program with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related STEM field. Others can pursue their MAS-E even if they’ve been working in an unrelated field, switching their career to engineering after earning this degree. These students can apply to the program by showing they have a quantitative or technical background and the math prerequisites to succeed in graduate-level engineering courses. Once enrolled in the MAS-E program, students tailor their learning to fit their professional goals by building their experience out of the one-credit courses that comprise the curriculum, focusing on the technology areas that most interest them.

Has the time come for us to rethink the characteristics of a good leader? According to Stephen M.R. Covey, author of Trust and Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others, it has. If Covey’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he is the son of Stephen R. Covey, the famous author of the influential book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, first published in 1989. Second-generation Covey continues the tradition of writing about inspirational leadership in his own book, presenting an alternative to the Command and Control leadership model that has dominated management for decades and which relies on hierarchical authority. He recognizes that the world has changed, work itself has changed, and the workforce has evolved, and he emphasizes the valuable role of diversity to unlock creativity, innovation, and success. According to Covey’s assessment, the new Trust and Inspire leader works to unleash people’s talent and potential by truly empowering and inspiring them rather than by containing and controlling them. He contends that anyone who leads with integrity, who shows true concern for employees, and who communicates transparently cultivates a culture where team members feel valued and inspired to do their best. Trust and Inspire leaders also know the importance of self-awareness and personal growth, so they demonstrate genuine openness to feedback. In Covey’s estimation, the fundamentals of becoming a Trust and Inspire leader consist in f ive fundamental beliefs and in three stewardships. Talented leaders believe that: people have greatness inside them; people are more than just employees - they are multifaceted, whole individuals; a company or organization can provide enough for everyone; leadership equals stewardship; and leaders create enduring influence from the inside out. Covey also outlines the three stewardship principles as follows: good leaders model who they are; they trust in their own leadership skills; and they inspire others by connecting their decisions to the “why”- to a purpose.

Some corporations are dropping diversity, equity, and inclusion titles and roles. However, there are other ways to incorporate and champion DEI principles. It may seem as though the goals and principles embodied in the concept of diversity, equity, and inclusion are being chipped away every day: On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, effectively ended the consideration of race in college admissions. Major investors BlackRock, Citadel Securities, and other financial firms have proposed a new private-market stock exchange in Dallas through which companies could access capital - and avoid DEI requirements that the high-tech Nasdaq electronic exchange mandates for its listing of companies’ boards of directors.This June the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta ruled that a Black-owned venture capitalist firm, the Fearless Fund, could not issue grants exclusively to Black women business owners. The court said the firm’s Fearless Strivers Grant Contest is “substantially likely to violate” equal rights laws. Edward Blum, the activist who led the group’s lawsuit, is the same one whose case led to the Supreme Court decision to dismantle affirmative action. Texas State Senate Bill 17 passed in January, banning all DEI offices, programs, and training along with preferential hiring and diversity statements at Texas public universities and colleges. These developments and others, driven by an assertive conservative majority in the Supreme Court and political populist nationalism on the rise in the United States and around the world, have led some U.S. companies to abolish, reduce, or reinvent their diversity initiatives. But experts say there is reason to take heart. Sweeping global inevitabilities - the climate crisis, demographic trends, globalization, and infrastructure investments - could well overpower today’s political and judicial moves. To solve myriad global problems, engineering firms will continue to require the contributions of as many engineers as possible, including those from historically underrepresented groups.

Each year, the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) program receives thousands of amazing award applications from women, genderqueer, and non-binary students across the country who are interested in tech. To select the national and regional award recipients, volunteers of all experience levels are needed to review and score each submission. It’s a simple and inspiring way to meet and support the future of tech, and increase much-needed diversity within computing, technology, and STEM fields! Volunteering as a reviewer is a rewarding and convenient way to: Uplift inspiring students who are the future of tech; Build a supportive community that encourages persistence; Get involved online from anywhere, at your own pace. Volunteers who complete 20 or more reviews will also receive a certificate. Volunteer reviewers are crucial in recognizing and encouraging current students, as well as their educators and mentors. Each review takes an average of 10 – 25 minutes to complete.

Discover how mobile science labs are revolutionizing classroom learning and opening new doors in STEM education. Mobile labs can be a great way to help STEM-oriented students prepare to enter the workforce as well as to reach students who don’t really know what they’re interested in yet, Colvin said. The labs provide an opportunity to boost traditional classroom coursework, giving students and teachers a break from the same experiences every day. They also provide a way to reach rural communities, where going on field trips may be harder. The labs also offer students a chance to be taught by people who look like them, Colvin said. Whenever possible she hires instructors from local communities. “I want to support teachers (with activities) that maybe students haven’t seen yet and offer role models that students can identify with.”