Computing is social

Computing is social. Really?!? That's not true. Computing, computer science, compsci, CS is a bunch of socially awkward unattractive white and Asian males sitting by themselves staring at a computer screen all day, everyday coding. And coding...that's hard and I think I would get bored with it after awhile. I don't want to make THAT my career choice!

So, I read your mind a bit (but not really...keep reading).

When you hear this stereotype, you believe it because you immediately visualize the lone male coder. It's an urban myth. Similar to your parents forewarning you about strangers tampering with your Halloween candy. These myths are sculpted to be memorable and believable "sticky" ideas (see “Made to Stick” by the Heath brothers - http://heathbrothers.com/books/made-to-stick/).

While Computer scientists are not strictly White or Asian males, the reported diversity in computing numbers and ensuing conversation for the past year is long overdue since these numbers are abysmal. But remember, women exist and succeed in computing. Underrepresented groups exist and thrive in computing. For example, check out http://quincykbrown.com/african-american-women-computer-science-phds/. The annual Grace Hopper Conference (in October 2015) and Tapia Conference (in February 2016) celebrate women and underrepresented groups in computing respectively. Each year, both conferences break attendance records. In addition, Many diversity initiatives are starting. I expect several of these programs will sustain IF AND ONLY IF the primary goal is to cultivate computationally-minded problem solvers who happen to be African American, Hispanic, Native American and/or Pacific Islander. Let me emphasize this point: The focus on an individual's aptitude in this discipline is crucial. You can not force an individual to be successful in any discipline if s/he doesn't have the aptitude, skill set and passion for it. The aptitude is an individual's natural inclinations toward the discipline and skill set can be taught while passion retains and indicates the individual's propensity for continual learning. That passion is encouraged, and eventually discovered, with exposure to different specializations of computing. Computing specializations grow and expand every few years, but here are the main categories (alphabetically): Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Bioinfomatics, Computer Architecture, Computer Forensics, Cybersecurity, Databases, Data Science, Gaming Technology, Human Computer Interaction, Information Security, Information Technology, Management & Information Systems, Operating Systems, Robotics, Software Engineering, Theoretical Computing, Wireless Networking.

The urban myth that CS is only for White males and Asian males is by no means debunked, but there are hopeful, change agent diversity in computing initiatives on the horizon. The attractiveness and socially awkward descriptions associated with computer scientists are subjective qualities. They are in the eyes of the beholder -- not all actors are attractive to everyone. So my commentary on those descriptions stops right here.

Let's say the "socially awkward ..." narrative doesn't cause you to run away from computing. The last piece of the CS urban myth tends to be the clincher: "alone coding all day everyday". Coding is only a part of the computing craft. Coding gets a bad reputation because it takes patience and practice to learn and effectively apply. There is no shortcut to learning to code. Coding is a computer scientist's equipment (like words to a blogger or a 9-iron to a golfer). Computing encompasses so much more, it has become social:

S -- systematic. Computing pieces together interdependent components intended to solve a problem and/or resolve an issue computationally. The GPS in your car or smartphone interfaces with the satellite towers to gather location information, roadway maps to determine plausible routes and real-time traffic reports to identify the faster route to the desired destination.

O -- omnipresent. Computation is at the core of many humanities, fine arts, management and STEM disciplines. If you pursue computing, you can surely find your niche. We benefit from the advances in computer science everyday such as reading email, dvr'ing our favorite shows and online banking.

C -- creative. We carry these small computers in our pockets. How many apps do you have on your smartphone? How many of those apps essentially perform the same function? Each app has more functionality you like than features you don’t like. I have 4 Holy Bibles apps, 3 Home Search apps, 2 Music playing apps and 1 of everything else apps on mine. A different design of an existing feature or a new feature becomes the base for a new system and possibly new crop of consumers.

I -- interactive. These systems are designed and built by coders with the expectation of bringing value to us, the consumers. Coders must discuss amongst themselves the set of viable approaches to address concerns raised by potential consumers. These discussions lasts for months with each iteration revealing new potential issues while addressing existing challenges. Discussions end when the system’s features outweigh the system’s issues. For example, certain spelling errors are very common so now electronic and computing devices auto-correct those spelling errors by default, but not all spelling errors are resolved.

A -- algorithmic. The approach and corresponding methods to solve an problem or resolve an issue requires sufficient planning and comprehensive design. Poor planning and design is a recipe  for an unstable useless system that will not engage consumers.

L -- lexicon. A coding computer scientist has to select an appropriate computer programming language to represent and execute the planned design. A programming language is constructed to optimize a particular set of designs. C# (C-Sharp) is intended for use in developing software components suitable for deployment in distributed environments. Python is a general-purpose high-level programming language emphasizing code readability for clear, concise small and large-scale programs. Javascript is a programming language of HTML and the Web while PHP is a server-side HTML embedded scripting language.

Perhaps I have not convinced you that computing is social. But, maybe the next time you check your email, google something or drive somewhere, you will take a moment to think about the computer scientists who contributed in making that action a little easier for you. And they were not all socially awkward unattractive white and Asian males sitting by themselves staring at a computer screen all day, everyday coding.

#BlackComputing

Fall 2014 marked the beginning of my tenure at Spelman College, a four-year liberal arts HBCU women's college. One of the courses I taught was Data Structures, commonly known as Computer Science II (CS2). While I reviewed the more finalized version of the CS2 syllabus with this group of brainy and excited aspiring computer scientists, several students informed me that they would be missing classes in order to attend Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference (btw, a great conference for any woman in computing). Of course, I asked the class if they had heard of Dr. Grace Murray Hopper, the conference's namesake. Unfortunately, they had not. I told them. The impromptu factoid resonated with my class.

So each week thereafter, I introduced them to a computer scientist who is Black. I named it the #BlackComputing series. I selected a mix of men and women, those in academia, industry and government, and a couple of Spelman alumna for extra emphasis. In the spirit of celebrating February as Black History Month, let us not forget to acknowledge current Black accomplishments. Here are the scientists in my #BlackComputing series (and a couple more), in random order.

• Kyla McMullen, Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Science and Engineering at University of Florida. 
• Bryant York, Professor of Computer Science at Portland State University.
• Andrea Lawrence, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Spelman College. 
• Ayanna Howard, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech. 
• Tyrone W. A. Grandison, CEO of Proficiency Labs International.
• Tony Baylis, Director of Office of Strategic Diversity Programs, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 
• Mave Houston, Founder & Head of USERLabs and User Research Strategy at Capital One.
• Kwesi Steele, Chief Technology Officer at JoMedia Inc.
• Roy Byrd, Research Staff Member Emeritus at IBM Research.
• Raquel Hill, Associate Professor of Computer Science at Indiana University-Bloomington
• James Mickens, Researcher at Microsoft.
• A. Nicki Washington, Associate Professor of Systems and Computer Science at Howard University and Owner of 'A' Game Educational Services.
• Juan Gilbert, Andrew Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Chair and he is the Associate Chair of Research in the Computer & Information Science & Engineering Department at University of Florida. 
• Leshell Hatley, Founder and Executive Director at Uplift, Inc. and Graduate Research Assistant at George Mason University. 

Healthy "Freak-Out"

Another Independence Day holiday has come and gone ushering in the season of unfilled summer tasks. Instructors made grand plans back in mid-May including but not limited to:

• complete some series of tasks on at least 1 research project
• submit conference papers and/or journal articles
• conference paper reviews
• grant proposal writing for new or continuing research projects
• post-award management of existing funded research projects
• course modification e.g., review your previous course instance and update course materials as appropriate
• course development e.g., design new course offering or receive (new to you) course materials

Sometimes, you make strides toward your summer tasks list. Other times, you can easily and frequently caught up in some other tasks. You are in the middle of what I call a healthy freak-out. The freak-out happens first. Those other tasks consume and eat up your days while leaving your nights to agonize over the untouched no-progress to-do items. Those other tasks are not high impact to your career plan and growth, but you still elect to complete them. or a WOC STEM faculty member, the freak-out experience is exaggerated. Why? Because you, my fellow doctor-sister, are the bridge. Poet Donna Kate Rushin says it best.

The Bridge Poem
by Donna Kate Rushin

I've had enough
I'm sick of seeing and touching
Both sides of things
Sick of being the damn bridge for everybody

Nobody
Can talk to anybody
Without me Right?

I explain my mother to my father my father to my little sister
My little sister to my brother my brother to the white feminists
The white feminists to the Black church folks the Black church folks
To the Ex-hippies the ex-hippies to the Black separatists the
Black separatists to the artists the artists to my friends' parents...

Then
I've got the explain myself
To everybody

I do more translating
Than the Gawdamn U.N.

Forget it
I'm sick of it

I'm sick of filling in your gaps

Sick of being your insurance against
The isolation of your self-imposed limitations
Sick of being the crazy at your holiday dinners
Sick of being the odd one at your Sunday Brunches
Sick of being the sole Black friend to 34 individual white people

Find another connection to the rest of the world
Find something else to make you legitimate
Find some other way to be political and hip

I will not be the bridge to your womanhood
Your manhood
Your human-ness

I'm sick of reminding you not to
Close off too tight for too long

I'm sick of mediating with your worst self
On behalf you your better selves

I am sick
Of having to remind you
To breathe
Before you suffocate
Your own fool self

Forget it
Stretch or drown
Evolve or die

The bridge I must be
Is the bridge to my own power
I must translate
My own fears
Mediate
My own weaknesses

I must be the bridge to nowhere
But my true self
And then
I will be useful

    -from This Bridge Called My Back
             edited by: Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua
            New York: Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, 1983.

You are frustrated by more than your unaccomplished professional milestones, but you know that you can not afford to be paralyzed by it.

You feel a burden to do and to be for others before yourself more times than not.

Stop that.

The healthy aspect of your freak-out happens second. You must sanitize that toxic frustration to green and clean fuel. Let your frustration make you better and stronger. You need to re-focus your energies by finding your balance. There is a time for work, a time for play and a time to do nothing. All parts should be roughly equal. Every day. You can revise your summer task list by answering the following questions:

• What are the high impact items to progress your career?  (e.g., journal article submissions)
• Which task items have impending deadlines? (e.g., grant proposal submissions and conference paper reviews)
• What can you reasonably accomplish in the remaining 6 weeks of the summer?

Originally fount at http://bschoolbabe.com/post/87204327699/how-to-live-your-purpose-i-love-this-graphic)

The image above is one pictorial illustrating what it means to fulfill a purposeful life. Your passion helps you solidify your mission, then your selected profession and vocation goals become more clear. At the center is your ability to find this intersection of your passion, mission, profession and vocation. 

You can do it.

Now, go play -- start executing your revised summer task list in the morning.

To the Aspiring Black Female Scientist

Brandeis Marshall's childhood desk aka "study depot"

This week, Kyla's article listing 73 Black Female Scientists has ignited a conversation about Black women in STEM and our (lack of) visibility within the science community. Well, I received a question from an almost 4th grader, who I'll call Cali. How sweet and awesome is that?!? She asked for advice on how to become a Black female scientist and I'm sure she's not alone in her inquiry. This is for all the Cali's...
 


Dear Cali:

I was very happy to receive your email. Thanks for asking your question. The 73 of us have had our own path to scientist-status. First and most importantly, you should have good grades. Then, you should attend and graduated from college. I also strongly suggest that you consider pursing an advanced degree in your chosen discipline. Education can only help you achieve your goals. Be smart, confident and have a positive personality. Beyond that, let me share a few pointers. 

Reading. I love reading. If you love reading, then you would love learning everything from the mathematics and science to language and arts subjects. My summer vacations were spent reading fun books, such as the Sweet Valley High series, in addition to the summer reading books. I read everywhere. I used my at-home desk as my study depot that housed some of my fun books and school supplies. I encourage you to make your own "study depot" and read some fun books. 

Extracurricular Activities. To excel in any field, you dedicate your time and energies to learning your craft. It takes focus and balance. I love music and took dance lessons during elementary and junior high school. I also enjoyed sports - volleyball, basketball and track & field. I still enjoy dancing and watching basketball. Extracurricular activities help you stay active and healthy. They also build your teamwork skills, which you will use science project teams. I hope you have at least one non-STEM activity that you find fun and enjoyable.  

Next Steps. Science is a big field including biology, chemistry, computing, engineering, mathematics, technology and physics. You can exposing yourself to these different types of science so you can find the ones you like and the ones you don't. There are 1-day events to week-long summer camps for all K-12 grade levels. Check your local colleges for these events and camps. These programs usually have a cost for participation, but could have scholarships or discounted cost options available. Here's few examples to get you started:

• 1-day events: Black Girls Code
• 1-week programs: Purdue University Summer Camps for Kids, Spelman Imagine Computer & Information Science (ICIS) Summer Camps

Dream big, be positive and you will do some great things. 

Yours in STEM,
Dr. Marshall