Empowering Young Women in Computer Science: An Interactive Web-Based Learning Tool

Description

Despite the attractive opportunities in the computer science industry, women represent a mere 5.17% of the coding community (Stack Overflow, 2022). This project aims to address gender disparity in Computer Science by developing an interactive web-based learning tool that provides inspiration and education to young women.

Key Features:

1. Timeline of Women’s Achievements in Computer Science: A historical overview of pioneering women in the field.
2. Women and Computing Education: An exploration of women’s status in computer science education.
3. Women and the Computing Workforce: Visualisation of gender disparity in the computing industry.
4. Contemporary Leadership Gallery: Showcases modern female leaders in computer science, encouraging young women to pursue careers in the field.

Objectives

• Development of an Interactive Profile Gallery: Showcase approximately 10 historical female role models in computing.
• Visualising Gender Disparity in Education: Create an interactive tool to highlight challenges women face in computer science education.
• Visualising Gender Disparity in the Workforce: Illustrate gender composition and underrepresentation of women in the computing industry.
• Contemporary Leadership Gallery: Highlight current female leaders in the tech industry.

Artifact

The core artifact of this project is a fully developed interactive web-based tool that includes:

• Interactive Profile Galleries: Using The Wikidata Query Service (WDQS), highlighting both historical and contemporary women in computer science.
• Data Visualisations: Interactive representations of gender disparity in both education and the workforce.
• Responsive Web Design: The tool is optimised for various screen sizes, ensuring accessibility across multiple devices.
• User Engagement Features: Interactive elements aimed at engaging users, particularly young women, and inspiring them to pursue careers in computing.

Contributors

• MSc Student: Ziya Meng
• Project Proposed by the Primary Supervisor Dr Angela Miguel.
• Second Supervisor: Dr Abd Alsattar Ardati

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