Women in Computer Science
The University prides itself on having been the first non-denominational teacher training college for women, established in 1885 to provide support to women pursuing their careers, a principle shared with Athena SWAN vision.
Equality and diversity
Wealth of opportunities for students who identify as a woman.
Computer Science, and (STEM) subjects are traditionally known to comprise a gender imbalance. Here in the Computer Science Department we aim to rectify this. We want all students who identify as a woman, to recognise the wealth of opportunities available. We want to inspire and encourage women from diverse backgrounds and ensure there is a fair environment for all.
There are exciting opportunities in Tech. We are a stepping stone to those opportunities in offering education, training and upskilling in the fields of Computer Science, such as AI, Data Analytics, Software Development and Cyber Security. We want women to embrace these opportunities and join our department so that they can realise their potential.
Athena Swan
The department holds a Bronze Athena SWAN award.
Edge Hill University is a member of the Athena Swan Charter and currently holds an institutional Bronze Athena SWAN Award.
Established in 2012, our department is fully committed to equality and diversity principles. We see Athena SWAN award as a key driver for further supporting equality and diversity for all students and staff. The department submitted a successful application for the Bronze award achieved in May 2019.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
We celebrate International Women’s Day here in the Department of Computer Science. We hold events to recognise women for their achievements and celebrate some of the amazing journeys women have made to their careers. We recently welcomed Sarah Mitchell who is a Data Scientist and Rachael Hardman Data Science Team Lead at Peak on to campus. Sarah and Rachael talked about their career paths and how it led them both to the world of Data Science.
Data science is one of the fastest growing fields in technology, combining scientific and commercial knowledge with data to produce invaluable insights. The talk examined the multiple career pathways into data science, with a strong focus on diversity in data science.
Tech Women Club
Empowering women to realise their potential.
To provide students in the Department of Computer Science at EHU an opportunity to interact with each other, share experiences, and take part in Women in Computer Science activities we are launching the “TECH WOMEN CLUB”.
We want to move forward with the next generation and empower women to see and realise their potential. We want you to see Women in CS roles around you and show you that the field is all-inclusive. During the International Women’s Day celebrations, our members welcomed the inspiration from our guest speakers talking about their career paths and how it led them to the world of Data Science. It was encouraging to learn about why they decided to pursue a data science career, as well as gaining valuable advice and exploring some of the lessons they learnt along the way including the different pathways to a career in data science.
Find out more about the clubIncreasing participation for women
Success stories
Women in CS news
PhD success
Dr Sarah McHale Lecturer in Computer Science.
Graduating from Edge Hill in 2020 with a PhD from the Computer Science department was a highlight in my professional life. This opportunity gave me the chance to make a real contribution to the field of computing.
As a recently appointed lecturer to the Computer Science department, opportunities lie ahead to reach out to the new generation of computer scientists with my research and spark interest with ‘research led’ modules. For example, demonstrating how the sensors in the Fitbit Ionic can help epilepsy patients provides students with an insight of how smart devices in healthcare can be developed hence making way for student’s own beginnings.
The fascination with the Internet began during my undergraduate study in 1995 when creating a simple ‘Hypertext’ artefact. But for me, in its exponential growth, the stealer of the show has been the Internet of Things (IoT), which has spun the world of modern computer science into providing opportunities, and one of them is a timely chance for a more sophisticated approach to the monitoring and management of healthcare. My initial interest in helping Epilepsy patients stems from my father developing ‘old age’ epilepsy and a realisation during my research that IoT has the potential to significantly improve the ‘patients’ daily lives whose epilepsy seizures cannot be controlled by drugs. New smart technology can be utilised in order to deliver a more personalised approach to monitoring patients. Sensors for healthcare monitoring, including EEG, ECG, EMG muscle tone, Movement detector and Pulse Oximeter can provide a more accurate and refined way of remote monitoring, and managing the ‘individual’ patient can be endorsed.
“As a recently appointed lecturer to the Computer Science department, opportunities lie ahead to reach out to the new generation of computer scientists with my research and spark interest with ‘research led’ modules.”
Dr Sarah McHale Lecturer in Computer Science
Contact
To make enquiries about any of our Women in CS initiatives or activities please contact the Chair of the Departmental Equality and Diversity Committee: Professor Ella Pereira.