Preparing For The Next Generation of Contributors

Presented by Grace Nolan
Friday 11:35 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Target audience: Community

Abstract

With more and more students learning computer science in schools, how can we encourage participation in OSS projects?

This talk is adapted from a research project Grace completed while at University investigating gender parity in Computer Science. Grace will share her findings on the student environment at university and how it relates to open source projects. She will then open the conversation up to discuss ideas on how to create a rich petri dish for prospective contributors from diverse backgrounds.

She will present to you a vision of the future; a reality check; and finally, a discussion of ideas to help us make that vision a reality.

Presented by

Grace Nolan

Grace Nolan is a recent computer science graduate of the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand and a full-time systems developer for Enable Ltd, a fibre broadband company in Christchurch. Amongst her passions for the field is a keen interest in the societal implications of technology, and the need for better representation and gender parity in CS. She gives talks to secondary students and their teachers, working closely with CS outreach organisations, and attending 'Women in Tech' workshops and conferences (such as the Grace Hopper Celebration). She's an enthusiastic choral singer, tea fanatic, and paints watercolours of flowers when she's not devouring the latest in tech news.

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