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Here come the girls

Getting girls more involved in computing is the focus of a special event at the University.

The Girls and Gadgets Computer Conference aims to engage girls with all aspects of computer science and raise their awareness of the opportunities it can offer. Around 200 girls from schools across the area will gather at the University for the event on Tuesday 16 December, which takes place from 9.00am to 3.15pm. It will involve a range of practical sessions and guest speakers. Activities include an e-journalism session, with girls interviewing the guest speakers and creating a website from the stories they compile. The girls will also be involved in sessions on computer games, digital music, multimedia and animation.

A range of subjects to explore Father and daughter team Gary and Noola Griffiths will run multimedia sessions during the event. Gary is a Principal Lecturer in the University's School of Computing, while Noola, 26, also recently joined the School of Computing as a part-time lecturer.

The girls will also explore image manipulation in a session called Cover Girl, which will involve them taking photographs of themselves to manipulate.

Among key speakers at the conference will be Eileen Brown, who works for Microsoft UK and is keen to promote the advancement of women in IT.

Also speaking will be award-winning animator Siobhan Fenton, Senior Lecturer in Animation in the University's School of Computing. Siobhan won the prestigious Royal Television Society Award in 2006 and has produced many successful animations.

The annual event, which is now in its second year, is organised by Alison Brown, a Senior Lecturer in the University's School of Computing.

Alison said: 'We aim to offer the girls an understanding of the vast range of opportunities available to them in the field of computing. The plan is to run this conference annually, inviting girls back each year. The conference can help to encourage them to consider computer science as a serious career choice.'

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