The number of young women taking computer science degrees is growing faster than for any other UK university subject, new figures show. Computing degrees have seen a 23% growth in accepted applications from women since 2019; according to new analysis by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. This is a higher percentage rise than for any other UCAS subject group. The ‘surging’ increase is particularly marked amongst 18-year old women taking computing at university, up by 47% between 2019 and 2022, BCS found. The growth rate for 18-year old men over the same period was lower, at 29%. BCS said the rise was ‘striking and important’ but cautioned that the number of women starting computing degrees this year (6,450) is still low compared with the number of men (27,735). Male students still outnumber female students in computer science by 4.3 to 1 this year, but the gap has closed slightly from in 2021 (4.7 to 1). The total number of students placed on undergraduate degrees in computing across the UK has increased by 11% on last year, with 34,185 people accepted to start courses. This is the second largest percentage increase of any subject, according to BCS, which analysed new end-of-cycle university admissions data from UCAS.

Professionals who begin their careers in the academy pursuing scientific research often wind up turning to industry, transitioning to a wide variety of work opportunities in STEM outside of universities. Academia can, of course, be a wonderful, exciting place that supports innovative research and the growth of intellectual curiosity. Still, individuals initially working at academic institutions may consider a new career path for any number of reasons. Side hustles or consulting gigs are certainly available options for many academics who want to work outside of academia on just a part-time basis. Many mid-career faculty members seek experiences that will help them earn a promotion and take their career to the chair or dean level. Some researchers who are in earlier stages of their career may also pursue these part-time opportunities, hoping the nonacademic STEM roles will help them shine in the tenure review process. Still other scientists eventually discover that a complete switch to work outside of academia is best for their professional or personal goals. The number of academics who consider this switch may surprise you: for instance, according to statistics published by the American Institute of Physics, 63% of those who earned a PhD in physics in 2019 and 2020 transitioned to potentially permanent employment in other fields, including engineering, business or finance, and medical services. If you find yourself contemplating a career change to industry and need more help than your institution or local community can provide, keep the following four considerations in the article in mind.

The fact is that diversity and inclusion in your tech team fuel productivity, creativity, and innovation. And it may be that technology itself holds the key for reaching out to a more inclusive workforce The lack of progress surrounding diversity in the technology sector was brought into sharp focus by dotcom entrepreneur Martha Lane-Fox. Speaking at a recent event held by employee wellbeing organisation WorkL, she said: “I never imagined that now in 2022, some of the dynamics of the industry that I was enjoying building my business in would still be so terrible.” The statistics largely support her position. TechNation estimates women account for just 26 per cent of the tech labour market, compared to 50 per cent of the overall workforce. People from ethnic minorities fare slightly better, accounting for 15.2 per cent against a UK average of 11.8 per cent, but the BCS Insights 2021 Report suggests 10 per cent of IT professionals have a disability, compared to 20 per cent of the working age population and 14 per cent of the UK workforce as a whole.

In partnership with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Directing Innovation provides participants with the tools and strategies to thrive as leaders in today’s increasingly complex STEM fields. By the end of this program participants will be equipped to: Make strategic decisions with agility in the face of uncertainty, Articulate purpose as the catalyst for extraordinary outcomes, Foster a customer-centric mindset to drive innovation, Strengthen collaboration and team culture, Build resiliency and help teams avoid burnout. All participants in the Directing Innovation Program receive access to post-program networking and learning opportunities.

Computing degrees have seen a 23% growth in accepted applications from women since 2019; according to new analysis by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. This is a higher percentage rise than for any other UCAS subject group. The ‘surging’ increase is particularly marked amongst 18-year old women taking computing at university, up by 47% between 2019 and 2022, BCS found. The growth rate for 18-year old men over the same period was lower, at 29%. BCS said the rise was ‘striking and important’ but cautioned that the number of women starting computing degrees this year (6,450) is still low compared with the number of men (27,735). Male students still outnumber female students in computer science by 4.3 to 1 this year, but the gap has closed slightly from in 2021 (4.7 to 1).

Over 100 extraordinary and inspiring women working in tech, came together to celebrate at the 2022 TechWomen100 Awards on Tuesday December 6th at the QEII Centre in London. As they did so, the founder of the Awards, Vanessa Vallely OBE, called on employers to redress the ‘pitifully low’ 21% representation of women in tech with the female tech talent pipeline clear to see The TechWomen100 Awards, powered by Barclays, focus on the achievements of up-and-coming women currently working in tech below senior management level. By shining a light on the female tech talent pipeline, the Awards seek to encourage and support the next generation of female tech role models and leaders. Now in their fifth year, the TechWomen100 Awards recognise the impact of individuals, companies and networks that are leading the way for future generations of tech talent. They form a key part of the WeAreTechWomen’s campaign to find and support 1,000 future female leaders in technology by 2025. So far, since 2015, the TechWomen100 awards have highlighted the achievements of 450 women.

Amanda Armijo, D.V.M., Ph.D., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was selected as the 25th recipient of the Karen Wetterhahn Memorial Award. This award from the NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) recognizes an outstanding graduate student or postdoctoral researcher who exemplifies characteristics of the award’s namesake. Armijo received the award December 15 at the SRP Annual Meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina. This MIT researcher gained recognition for her work on tracing how the toxin NDMA damages genes, and how the DNA might repair itself.

If you are you a pre-doctoral student in life sciences, physical sciences, behavioral sciences, mathematics or engineering you can apply for the AWIS Distinguished Doctoral Research Scholarship. These annual prizes support the professional development and advancement of AWIS members. Due to the generous support of their donors, AWIS has awarded over 40 scholarships in the last decade and awarded hundreds of grants to local AWIS chapters. Applications opened on December 9, 2022 and close February 28, 2023.

At CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, physicists and engineers are probing the fundamental structure of the universe. Using the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments, they study the basic constituents of matter - fundamental particles that are made to collide together at close to the speed of light. The process gives physicists clues about how particles interact, and provides insights into the fundamental laws of nature. During two full months corresponding to 9 weeks (June-August 2023), CERN openlab summer students will work on an advanced IT project and will be given a series of IT lectures specially prepared for them by experts at CERN and other institutes. The students also have the opportunity to attend the main CERN Summer student programme lectures, if they wish. Visits to the accelerators and experimental areas are part of the programme, as well as visits to external companies, pandemic allowing. A short report and a presentation on your work and project at CERN will be expected at the end of your stay.

Read more...

Code Computerlove has appointed Gemma Handley as its new Managing Director. Gemma joined Code in 2018 and the promotion sees her moving from Commercial Director to Managing Director at the start of 2023. Gemma will replace current MD Rob Jones who is taking up a new position outside the group. Part of MediaCom North, Code was established in 1999 by founders Tony Foggett, Louis Georgiou and Wini Tse, and Gemma will now lead the 80-strong agency through its next phase of growth. Gemma has 15 years of experience in commercial delivery and operations and has been instrumental in introducing new company-wide operational and cultural initiatives, alongside progressing team-centric practices and relationship-focused collaboration tools. Prior to joining Code, she held delivery roles at some of Manchester’s biggest dot-coms including LateRooms and ao.com as well as working for agencies like Kin & Carta (formerly Amaze) and Dept (formerly Building Blocks). In January, the group will be officially part of EssenceMediacom and move into the new WPP Campus based in Enterprise City and St John’s tech, media and creative quarter.