Women in Data Science (WiDS)
  • Home
  • About
    • Blog
    • WiDStory
    • News
    • Research
    • Sponsors
    • Collaborators
    • Contact
    • Donate
  • Conferences
    • WiDS Stanford 2023 Agenda
    • WiDS Stanford 2023 Speakers
    • WiDS Regional Events 2023
    • Ambassadors 2023 >
      • Ambassador Advisory Council
    • WiDS Ambassador Program
    • Past Conferences >
      • WiDS 2022
      • WiDS 2021
      • WiDS 2020
      • WiDS 2019
      • WiDS 2018
      • WiDS 2017
      • WiDS 2015
    • Conference Committee
  • Datathon
    • Datathon Details
    • Datathon Resources >
      • Datathon Press Release
    • WiDS Datathon Workshops 2023
    • Datathon News
    • Datathon Collaborators
    • Datathon Committee
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Committee
  • Education
    • Workshops >
      • Workshop Instructors
      • Workhop Committee
    • Next Gen >
      • Next Gen Resources
      • Next Gen Committee

Press Release

March 2, 2020
Global WiDS Announces the WiDS High School Outreach Program
Pilot program kicks off in Bay Area high schools 
Press Contact
Forrest Carman
forrestc@owenmedia.com
206-859-3118

Stanford, CA—At the Stanford Women in Data Science Conference (WiDS) today, a new WiDS High School outreach program was announced to inspire high school students to consider careers involving data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and other related areas at their annual WiDS Conference. The program is geared to all high school students, but particularly encourages younger women to consider pursuing data science by educating students about the opportunities within the field and highlighting successful female role models.
​

The program is being piloted in several high schools, including Eastside Preparatory in East Palo; Gunn High School in Palo Alto, Sequoia High School in Redwood City, and Fremont High School in Sunnyvale. The WiDS High School Outreach Program provides videos specifically designed for secondary school students along with discussion guides and other materials that are being used in a variety of settings—from math and computer science classes to robotics clubs and career centers. 

Post-pilot, High School teachers and other secondary school educators will have an opportunity to participate in the program. Interested educators can register today to receive information and notifications about the WiDS High School Outreach Program launch.

“Efforts to solve gender disparity in STEM needs to start at a young age,” says Karen Matthys, Executive Director, External Partners at Stanford’s Institute for Computational & Mathematical Engineering (ICME) and Co-Director of the WiDS initiative. “We want to engage students before they are tempted to believe the stereotypes that girls are lacking when it comes to STEM, or that if you like science somehow you’re not ‘cool.’ We want to show these kids role models who are in the field and demonstrate just some of the many ways there are to be involved in data science—in whatever area they are passionate about—from healthcare to environmental studies, from music to government. That’s why we created this program.”

Data science, machine learning and AI touch virtually every aspect of life today. It’s a dynamic and fast changing field with ample opportunity. Through day in the life video clips showing young women on the job in data science, talks about the challenges with bias and privacy, discussion guides, a glossary and more, the program will encourage students to consider the possibilities of data science and how it can be used to impact the world—from healthcare to conservation to finance to human rights and beyond. 

“I love watching how this curriculum is opening my students’ eyes to the field of data science,” says Marianne Chowning-Dray, Math teacher from Eastside Prep. “They’re beginning to understand how far-reaching the impacts of data science can be and how they might be a part of it.”​

###

About WiDS
The Women in Data Science (WiDS) initiative aims to inspire and educate data scientists worldwide, regardless of gender, and to support women in the field. ​WiDS started as a conference at Stanford in November 2015. Now, WiDS includes a global organization, with approximately 150+ regional events worldwide; a datathon, encouraging participants to hone their skills using a social impact challenge; a podcast, featuring leaders in the field talking about their work, their journeys, and lessons learned; and ongoing education initiatives. ​
Sponsors
WiDS sponsors
 
​

Social Media
Twitter: @WiDS_Conference
​
LinkedIn: Women in Data Science (WiDS)
Facebook: @WiDSWorldwide 
​
Logos 

Available upon request

Photos
Prior event photos

Videos
WiDS 2019 Highlight video
Why we started WiDS 
    featuring Margot Gerritsen
WiDS YouTube playlist
SiliconAngle TV / The Cube
     WiDS 2019 Interviews

Initiatives

Conference
Ambassador Program
Datathon
Podcast
Workshops 
Next Gen

Follow Us

LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube
​Blog

connect

LinkedIn Group
Facebook Group
subscribe
donate

© 2022 Women in data science. Women in Data Science is a Registered trademark of Stanford University. 

  • Home
  • About
    • Blog
    • WiDStory
    • News
    • Research
    • Sponsors
    • Collaborators
    • Contact
    • Donate
  • Conferences
    • WiDS Stanford 2023 Agenda
    • WiDS Stanford 2023 Speakers
    • WiDS Regional Events 2023
    • Ambassadors 2023 >
      • Ambassador Advisory Council
    • WiDS Ambassador Program
    • Past Conferences >
      • WiDS 2022
      • WiDS 2021
      • WiDS 2020
      • WiDS 2019
      • WiDS 2018
      • WiDS 2017
      • WiDS 2015
    • Conference Committee
  • Datathon
    • Datathon Details
    • Datathon Resources >
      • Datathon Press Release
    • WiDS Datathon Workshops 2023
    • Datathon News
    • Datathon Collaborators
    • Datathon Committee
  • Podcast
    • Podcast Committee
  • Education
    • Workshops >
      • Workshop Instructors
      • Workhop Committee
    • Next Gen >
      • Next Gen Resources
      • Next Gen Committee