More Squeaking in Illinois at UIUC

URBANA, IL - The Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois will hold its first "Celebration of Women in Computing" at its Siebel Center for Computer Science from April 1 to 3. The event consists of computer related activities and speakers for girls and women of all ages. The aim is to demonstrate first-hand the sense of accomplishment and joy that can come from choosing computer science as a college major and career.

The event will feature speakers and a roundtable discussion between U of I Women in Computer Science members and WCS members from other universities, as well as activities such as deconstructing and constructing a computer. According to Cinda Heeren, faculty advisor for the Women in Computer Science program at the University, "Young women should come away impressed and challenged by what they experience at the event, but also get a sense of the joy the women receive from their accomplishments."

As part of the celebration, elementary and middle school students are invited to participate in an introductory workshop on an exciting new programming language called Squeak. Using Squeak, students can make media-rich programming projects via a programming interface that requires almost no typing skills. Simple drawings can be animated to interact with their environments in sophisticated ways, resulting in game design projects, animated art, or scientific simulations.

The celebration will also include an awards gala for two WCS competitions-"Games 4 Girls" and "Technical Ambassadors." In Games 4 Girls, a competition sponsored by Electronic Arts, Inc., teams of college-age women design computer games specifically targeted at middle or high school-age girls. Each member on the first place team will receive $1,000, while second- and third-place team members will be awarded $500. The Technical Ambassadors competition (TAC), sponsored by Microsoft, gives teams of girls in high school, under the supervision of a faculty advisor, the chance to work on a technical project that will benefit a local not-for-profit organization. At the event, members of the top three TAC teams will be awarded cash prizes ranging from $100 to $250.

ChicTech, a group of WCS members, visits high schools to stir interest in the Technical Ambassadors competition, dispel myths about computer science and make girls aware of the diverse opportunities within the field.

Jenna Hill, a ChicTech member and administrator of Technical Ambassadors, said the event was intended to promote young women working together in teams on technical issues and to spark or further develop their curiosity.

"We hope that they gain a liking for technology and that they'll decide to join us when they go to college," Hill said. "Numbers of women in computer science have been declining, and we're trying to change that."