Category Archives: Women in Computing

Students, Women in Computing

Student profile: Sophie Pearce (BSc Computer Science)

Third-year BSc Computer Science student Sophie Pearce talks to us about her experience of studying at Goldsmiths, her work placements, and why she chose Computer Science.

SophiePierceWhat made you choose BSc Computer Science at Goldsmiths?
For me it was about employability and practicalities.
I wanted to focus on practical skills and choose something that would be challenging and interesting. Also I’ve always enjoyed using computers.

At school I’d studied Economics, English, Drama and Maths, but for my degree I wanted to acquire new skills, not just expand on what I’d been taught before (which was how to write essays, etc).

I came along to an Open Day at Goldsmiths, and I really liked the ethos on campus and the creativity. But most importantly I liked the way the course was set out and thought I could thrive in that kind of environment. There are few universities like Goldsmiths that allow you to be creative with a technical subject.

I started my degree in 2010. Originally, I studied BSc Creative Computing, but I quickly changed to BSc Computer Science, which matches what I want to do with my career – hopefully something in computer security.

What have you done in your three years at Goldsmiths?
I have learned a lot. I’ve acquired lots of programming languages, an understanding of algorithms, knowledge of discrete mathematics, databases, clients and servers, computer architecture… the list is endless.

With support from my tutors and lecturers, I’ve also added achievements to my CV such as work placements. Every year after exams, I’ve been encouraged to have some sort of placement during the summer break.

In the first year I worked at the 2012 Olympics. When I went along to the interview I found my course was my best asset. I was placed in a security team. I loved working with X ray machines and met lots of people who worked in IT and other backgrounds, which helped me build a contacts base.

In the second year I worked in India during the summer on an IT development project funded by the UK Department for International Development. This was incredibly challenging. I studied the digital divide between the rich and the poor, and assessed the IT infrastructure in the state I was working in. This meant using the skills and knowledge that I’d learned on my course: understanding data analysis, how the internet works, and how to store vast amounts of data.

In September I was accepted onto the Microsoft Student Partners programme. As an MSP my role is help people program software, acquire skills and attend events.

What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on my dissertation, which is about malware, social understanding and perceptions. Although it’s essentially a research project, I’ve still had to program and use skills I’ve learned from all the courses I have done throughout my time at Goldsmiths. It is without a doubt the most challenging project I have done to date!

You are finishing your degree in the summer. What are your plans, and how have Goldsmiths helped you prepare?
Goldsmiths have been brilliant in helping me prepare, there have been talks held by previous graduates, people in industry etc. The careers service have helped me put a CV together and given me lots of useful advice.

Like a lot of people, I am not sure exactly what I want to do next. I have such a wide variety of interests that I can see myself doing lots of things. I certainly intend to continue with programming, so I’m hoping to find work with a company that has real potential.

Careers, Women in Computing

Open letter: to a new female student studying computing

by Dr Kate Devlin, Department of Computing

Dear ________,

Welcome to the world of computing! I hope it is all that you hoped. It may not be quite what you expected.

As you will no doubt already know, women are under-represented in computer science: that includes industry as well as academia. By taking this step you are helping to change things. As women, we consume technology. We use mobile phones, laptops, tablets, mp3 players. We are a voice on social media, we are comfortable and familiar with apps. We take digital photos, we upload videos and our writing is online. We are consumers. We can also be innovators.

You may have a few concerns about how you fit into a degree and a career in computing. When Belinda Parmar, founder of Little Miss Geek, went to talk to a class of 14 year old boys and girls about the tech industry, she asked them to draw a picture of someone in the IT industry. Most, inevitably, drew a stereotypical, overweight, geeky looking person with glasses. Every single member of that class, both boys and girls, drew a man.

Take it from me, though – that’s not really how it is. Sure, some of those types of people exist but most are‚ well‚ normal. The men I have encountered in my time as a computer science academic and a programmer have, pretty much overwhelmingly, been supportive and encouraging (there are a few exceptions, but then there are assholes in all walks of life). The problem is not, the men‚ per se. The problem is the biased set-up. The problem is the social expectation. The problem is the lack of opportunity. The problem is the stereotyping.

Women have a valuable role to play. If you’ve ever been told that there are few great women computer scientists, consider that it could be because only a few women have ever been given the chance. Since we were children, the opinions of others have influenced – subtly or unsubtly – how we dress, act, behave and work. Even if we actively shun these opinions we are still susceptible to the unrelenting messages so implicit in society about what our role should be. We learn, as girls, what we are supposed to like. We learn that if we digress from this stereotype then we face problems, not least that we will have to battle to be accepted.

I hope that it is not like this for you. I hope that the degree programme you’ve joined breaks those stereotypes and gives you exactly the same chances and opportunities that your male colleagues have. That is what we aim for as educators.

Women are behind the greatest inventions in computing: programming, compilers, wifi. Women are taking lead roles in massive tech companies – Sheryl Sandberg, chief of Facebook, and Marissa Mayer of Yahoo! to name two prominent figures. There is a long way still to go but by starting your career in computing you are already making a change. We can offer support: here at Goldsmiths we have a Women in Computing network, we offer bursaries, and we have a wide and varied intake from all walks of life who each bring their own valued perspective. Computing is a subject with wonderful opportunities. From programming to web design, from wearable technologies to gaming, and from robots to music, computing opens so many doors to the career of your choice.

You can shape the field of computing.  You don’t have to listen to the stereotypes or stick with the tried and tested. Think about what you want from technology ‚ and then go out and make it.

Dr Kate Devlin
Department of Computing

First published on Goldsmiths Academics

Staff profiles and activity, Women in Computing

Electronic music pioneer

As well as running the Creative Computing programme at Goldsmiths, Mick Grierson directs the Daphne Oram Collection, an archive of audio, code, photographs, scores and papers relating to the electronic music pioneer Daphne Oram.

Daphne Oram (1925 – 2003) was one of the central figures in the development of British experimental electronic music. As co-founder and first director of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, she is credited with the invention of a new form of sound synthesis – Oramics. Not only is this one of the earliest forms of electronic sound synthesis, it is noteworthy for being audiovisual in nature – i.e. the composer draws onto a synchronised set of ten 35mm film strips which overlay a series of photo-electric cells, generating electrical charges to control amplitude, timbre, frequency, and duration.

“The Oramics machine is a device of great importance to the development of British electronic music,” explains Mick Grierson. “It’s a great shame that Daphne’s contribution has never been fully recognised, but now that we have the machine at the Science Museum, it’s clear for all to see that she knew exactly how music was going to be made in the future, and created the machine to do it.”

 

Women in Computing

Interview with Dr Rebecca Fiebrink

You’ve joined Goldsmiths from Princeton University. What made you decide to move here?
I came to Goldsmiths because I’m excited by the focus on high-quality interdisciplinary teaching and research that I see within the Department of Computing and around the College. I think Goldsmiths will be a fertile place to do my research, which intersects with music, computer science, machine learning, design, and human-computer interaction.

Working here, I get to be surrounded by colleagues, collaborators, and mentors who are doing high-impact research in related areas. Furthermore, I get to be a part of teaching students who come here to study things like Music Computing and Creative Computing. This is a really unique place!

If you could you sum up your research in one sentence, what would it be?
Through my research in computer science and human-computer interaction, I create technologies that enable people to express themselves more effectively and in new ways, that help them discover and exercise their creative potential, and that improve their sense of efficacy in their interactions with computers.

You’ve worked on a number 1 iTunes app (I Am T-Pain). What did you learn from this experience and do you have any tips for staff or students who are perhaps trying to work on an app?
There’s so much effort and attention that goes into making an app like this work. I think that implementing the ‘technical’ part of an app (e.g. getting the phone to play sound and tune your voice in real time, for example) can be pretty easy in comparison to getting the design right and communicating the app’s potential value to the user— not to mention getting the idea right in the first place! Of course, having a good team around you also helps. I was one small piece of a fantastic team of people at Smule, whose engineers, project managers, graphic designers, marketing people, etc. knew how to go about answering these questions (and also put in the long hours to pull it all off).

My advice for anyone wanting to build a successful is to develop their ability to think and act effectively across all of these questions: You need strong technical skills to make it all work, but you also need to start with a good idea, to develop and refine that idea over time, and to build a worthwhile experience for the user. Fortunately, in the Department of Computing, I think we’re teaching Goldsmiths students all of these skills!

It seems that you’re quite the musician (you’ve performed as the principal flutist at the Timmins Symphony Orchestra). What artist, band or performance should people look out for in 2014?
Actually, two of the concert series I’m most excited about this year are happening very close to Goldsmiths. First, Goldsmiths Computing’s Embodied Audio-Visual Interaction Group (EAVI) has an ongoing concert series at the Amersham Arms, in which EAVI faculty, students, and friends will be playing some great live electronic music. The next concert will be this Thursday, 9 January (doors open 8pm).

Second, Goldsmiths is hosting the New Interfaces for Musical Expression (NIME) conference 30 June–3 July 2014. As part of the conference, we’ll be having a bunch of concerts and club performances of experimental, interactive, electronic music, which will be open to the public.

Beyond Goldsmiths, I’m also looking forward to going to some concerts by St Paul’s Sinfonia, a chamber orchestra based in Greenwich and Lewisham. They’ve got some terrific programming coming up, with a nice mixture of classical and contemporary repertoire.

On a personal note…

Where is your favourite place to eat in London?
I’ve eaten in so many good places so far, so this is a tough call! Maybe the London Particular?

What are your new year’s resolutions?
I’m resolving to 1) Learn more British idioms, slang, and food names so I’m not perpetually confused when people tell me things like how knackered they are after the knees-up and all they want is to eat a jacket potato and some spotted dick. 2) Spend some quality time out and about, getting to know London. 3) Learn to cook decent Indian food.
This interview with Rebecca originally appeared in Goldsmiths Staff News

 

Women in Computing

HER in Hero: Kate Devlin

Nominated by: Mark Bishop

Kate is a Lecturer in the Department of Computingat Goldsmiths, University of London. She is a qualified computer scientist and archaeologist and is passionate about combining both in her research, focusing on digital cultural heritage. Read more about Kate’s research here. Mark says:

Kate Devlin as she is demonstrably a great woman in Computing; doing interesting research, great teaching, is passionately involved in this campaign and is a top woman to boot!

 

In early 2013 Kate was one of 60 experts selected out of over 2000 applicants for training as an expert contributor and presenter at the BBC as part of the Expert Women campaign. As a feminist, Kate strives towards highlighting the role of women in computer science and addressing sexism and gender imbalance in the IT industry.

Women in Computing

HER in Hero: Prof. Kate Robson Brown

Nominated by:Kate Devlin

Kate Robson Brown is  Professor of Biological Anthropology in the Archaeology and Anthropology department at the University of Bristol where I carried out my postdoctoral research. She impresses me in terms of her successful academic career and qualifications, and also in how she values family life and being a mother. She is a great ambassador for STEM academics and a lovely person too.

Women in Computing

HER in Hero: Daphne Oram

Nominated by: Mick Grierson

My nomination is (perhaps unsurprisingly) Daphne Oram.

She founded the BBC radiophonic workshop, invented the first British Electronic music device that featured a computational method for describing pitch (The Oramics Machine), and composed some of the most original and inventive music of the 1950s and 1960’s. She also may have been the first woman to develop her own computer program to make music.