Spotlight: Carrie Anne Philbin
Each month we spotlight a woman or girl in tech who inspires us. This month we are highlighting Carrie Anne Philbin. Carrie Anne’s mission is “to make computing epic for teens everywhere!†She is currently the Education Pioneer at the Raspberry Pi Foundation. In 2012, she created a YouTube video series for teenage girls called The Geek Gurl Diaries - recently highlighted by Common Sense Media as one of the 12 Best Youtube Channels for Kids and Teens. In 2013, she was named the London Talk Talk Digital Hero for her work inspiring more girls to take up STEM subjects. This year her book, Adventures in Raspberry Pi was published. It's a "must have" resource for students/educators and kids/parents who want to get the most out of their Raspberry Pi experience.
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Why is it important to get more girls and women interested in technology?
Women represent 50% of people using technology today on a daily basis, and yet they are not represented by the people who create technology. This needs to change. I noticed that the uptake of ICT and Computer Science by teenage girls in my own teaching practice at KS4, KS5 and higher education was also just as limited, and that female students would opt for subjects which are seen as more creative such as Art, Dance, or Humanities. There are wider cultural issues that are involved in this problem, but girls are interested in STEM, we just need to help continue their journey.
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Activities & Events
Live & Local
- December 13 - Girls' Geek Day. Baker Butler Elementary School (9am to noon). This event is open to all ages, but if you are a 3rd grader or younger, please plan on bringing one of your parents too. Registration required.
- December 10 - Create It @ The Library: A Teen Pop-up MakerSpace at Central Branch of JMRL from 4:30-6:00pm. This month it's Light-Up Cards – use LEDs to brighten up your greeting cards. This is a drop in event for grades 6 thru 12.
- December 31 (deadline) - Tech Tour Scholarship. Are you Junior or Senior? Did you go on this year's Tech Tour or been on any of the Tech Tours? Do you plan on studying in a STEM field in college? If the answers are yes, then you should apply for the Tech Tour Scholarship!
- January 31 - K-12 Playing ACES CHESS Event at Keswick Hall. Registration required.
- Ongoing - Tech-Girls before & after school programs for middle school girls are in high gear. We are collaborating with GEMS at Jouett & Henley. We've also got programs at Sutherland and Computers4Kids. Contact us for more info.
- Ongoing - Tinkersmiths Makerspace hosts a wide range of workshops that are open to a variety of ages and experience levels. Check out their latest meetups.
Virtual & Global
- Ongoing - Made with Code for classes & workshops geared toward girls.
- September 1 - February 15 - ProjectCSGIRLS, the nation’s biggest computer science competition for middle school girls. Build something with tech that can help solve an imminent social problem.
- December - 31 Days of STEM Fun with DeSTEMber from GirlStart.
- December 8 - 14 - Hour of Code, a worldwide movement to designed to introduce students of all ages to the joy & power of computer science with a one-hour introduction to coding. Check out the online tutorials!
- February 25 (deadline) - National STEM Video Game Challenge. A game design competition for middle & high school students.
- Upcoming - Technovation Challenge. A global technology entrepreneurship program for young women everywhere ages 10 to 23. Start recruiting your team of up to 5 girls now! Pre-registration available.
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