ON-LINE SYSTERS COMMUNITY NAMES LATEST RECIPIENTS OF ITS ANITA BORG SYSTERS™ PASS-IT-ON GRANTS

Anita Borg Institute Announces Next Round of Grant Applications Now Open

2008-06-17, Anita Borg Institute

Posted by ventanapr 205 days ago (1)
Category: Technology | Tags: women technology

PALO ALTO, Calif. – The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI) has announced the most recent winners of its 2008 Anita Borg Systers™ Pass-it-on Grants Program. Systers is the world’s largest e-mail community of technical women in computing, and celebrates its 21st anniversary this year. Founded by Anita Borg in 1987 as a small electronic mailing list for women in “systems,” Systers broadly promotes the interests of women in the computing and technology fields. The next round of Systers PIO grant applications opens June 16 and closes October 26, 2008.

The current list has grown to more than 3,000 members in more than 50 countries. Many Systers members credit the list for helping them make sound career decisions, and steering them through difficult professional situations.

The Pass-It-On Grants Program supports this cooperative spirit, lending support to women who seek a place in technology by providing seed grants for programs that show promise of expanding into significant efforts to boost women’s roles in the field. “Pass-It-On” grants are so named to reflect the moral obligation to “pass on” the benefits gained from the grant.

The four most recent recipients of the Systers Pass-it-On grants include:

Dina Almurda, USA
Project Title: Integrating Technology into the California Science Curriculum

This project will help to create a Tech Science Handbook to aid elementary school teachers in acquiring new information and mastering new computer literacy skills. It is targeted at better integrating computer technology into the California Science Curriculum.

Cornelia Boldyreff, UK
Project Title: WSET Newsletter: Producing it for Ourselves

Boldyreff formed a Women in Computing group at the University of Lincoln (UK) and obtained support from the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WSET) to fund a cross-year mentoring program. The grant will ensure the WSET newsletter’s continuation as Boldyreff trains students to produce it in-house.

Gayatri Burgohain, India
Project Title: To purchase a laptop for work towards empowering women through technology

Burgohain is initiating Feminist Approach to Technology (FAT), a not-for-profit organization that aims to decrease the gender divide in technology usage and to increase women’s participation in the technical workforce and in policy-making. The grant will be used to purchase a laptop. In the most remote areas of India she can use the laptop to teach women what computers are and how they work. Once FAT gets funding to purchase computers, she intends to donate this laptop to a female student studying computing.

Oreoluwa Somolu, Nigeria
Project Title: The W.TEC Girls’ Technology Camp

This initiative of the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) aims to bridge the technology gap between boys and girls early in their career paths. The technology camp will equip 15 Nigerian female students with solid foundations in computer technology, a variety of computing and technology skills and a strong interest in advancing the study at the tertiary level.

“So many girls have the skills, interest and ambition to succeed in high-level technology careers,” said Somolu. “If given a boost early in their academic careers, a world of possibilities opens up and they can greatly increase their chances for achieving their potential.”

Pass-it-on Grants are open to any woman over 18 years old in or aspiring to be in the field of computing. Grants are open to women in all countries and range from $500 to $1,000 USD.
Applications are now being accepted and information about the grant application process is available at: http://anitaborg.org/initiatives/systers/pass-it-on-grants-program/.

About the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (ABI)
The Anita Borg Institute provides resources and programs to help industry, academia, and government recruit, retain, and develop women leaders in high-tech fields, resulting in higher levels of technological innovation. ABI programs serve high-tech women by creating a community and providing tools to help them develop their careers. ABI is a not-for-profit 501(c) 3 charitable organization. ABI Partners include: Google, Microsoft Corporation, HP, Sun, Cisco, Intel, SAP, Juniper Networks, NSF, NCWIT, IBM, Symantec, Computer Associates, NetApp, and Capgemini. For more information, visit www.anitaborg.org.

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Media Contact:
Jerri Barrett
650-857-6095
jerrib@anitaborg.org