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Workshop shows girls creative side of computers

June 08, 2005

Mark Evered 03 Hi.jpgA light-and-touch sensing robot with a motor and micro-controller will be built by a group of schoolgirls under the supervision of an academic from The University of New England at a workshop later this month.
The one-day event is aimed at giving schoolgirls a greater understanding of the creative side of the Information Communication Technology industry (ICT).
Dr Mark Evered, a Senior Lecturer in UNE’s School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, will help the girls construct the robot using a set of basic components.
“It will help students learn to apply the basic elements of computer algorithms, including sequencing, decisions and control loops,” Dr Evered said.
He is among a team of academics from UNE who will take part in the workshop, called Zonta Zonta e-girls, at Armidale TAFE on June 16, aimed at helping schoolgirls in Year 10 pursue ITC careers.

Organised by Zonta, an international women’s organisation aimed at advancing the status of women, the workshop will draw together about 40 schoolgirls from New England schools, including those in Inverell, Glen Innes and Armidale.
It is the first time such a workshop has been organised in rural Australia, according to Zonta spokeswoman Ms Cherry Stewart.
“Only about 20 per cent of ICT professionals are women and the number of women studying Engineering Science is in decline,” Ms Stewart said.
“I hope this workshop will show girls the creative and inventive side of engineering and by giving them a hands-on understanding of technology, will help them see computers not only as a tool, but as something to play with, which is how many males view computers.”
The workshop is involving a number of other workers from UNE and the broader community.
Dr Chris Reading, from the UNE-based National Centre of Science, Information and Communication Technology has pledged $2000 towards research connected with the project while an all-female team from the Armidale Film and Television School will film the workshop on DVD.
Senior IT architect for IBM, Ms Cathryn Lak, will lead a group of girls in creating digital media and programming HyperText Mark-up Language (HTML).
Pia Waugh of Linux Australia, the first female president of a computer society, has planned a workshop in networking and installing the Linux Operating System. While Gunilla Burrows, an electrical engineer, offers "Crypto Cracking Cronies", a workshop in security and code breaking.
Ms Stewart said Zonta e-girls came about after Armidale Zonta Club’s fundraising efforts in 2003. She said the society also hopes to provide scholarships for young women studying Engineering, Maths, Physical Sciences or ICT-related studies.
“Zonta e-girls is the first of its type in regional Australia and we hope will assist girls in the creative use of problem-solving skills,” Ms Stewart said.
“This will give girls the chance to interact with computers and see them not simply as tools, but rather the result of creative and inventive thinking of which they can be a part.”

Posted by Lydia Roberts at June 8, 2005 12:44 PM