Villanes Speaks on WiCS Panel

Women in Computer Science (WiCS) and NCSU Libraries co-hosted a screening of the documentary She++, which explores the issues around girls, code and computing, followed by a panel discussion with the Institute’s research associate, Andrea Villanes. The panel was moderated by Dr. Lina Battestilli, WiCS faculty advisor, and also included NCSU computer science professors Tiffany Barnes and Sarah Heckman, and Google software engineer Melanie Donny-Clark. In the past decade the number of first-year female undergraduates who expressed interest in a computer science major declined 79%. This statistic has ramifications on America’s ability to provide enough qualified graduates to meet the growing demand for workers in computer science. She++ is an inspiring documentary that offers a vision of how to create a brighter future in the world of computer science by embracing men and women equally.