Research has examined both engineering demographics and factors improving or impeding diversity. However, media regularly emphasizes current lack of diversity in technology, while putting considerably less focus on specific actions to drive change. We will share some research data, as well as information about a number of initiatives to draw in young people - from elementary to college - who might otherwise never consider an engineering future, including: target demographic groups, what specifically each initiative is doing, and results. Learn how specific initiatives are making a difference – and what you can do to make a difference, too.

1. BEYOND TALK: MOVING THE LEVERS
OF DIVERSITY IN TECHNOLOGY
Melissa Liu
CEO / Founder
2025 Labs LLC

2. Inspiration: Why am I standing here?
Social and News Media focus on negatives –
current demographics, horror stories, stereotypes
Not as much focus on how to change, who’s
making a difference, and what we can all do
Enough talk – what can we DO?

3. What does the research show?
Intel, 2011:
• “Exposure to any content about engineering dramatically increases” the likelihood of
teens (male and female) who would consider engineering…
• Information about engineering salaries, applicability to real-world solutions, and
impact on social good made a big difference in their perception
University of Washington, 2015
• Main culprit for gender disparity: “Inaccurate stereotypes depicting computer
scientists and engineers as geeky, brilliant and socially awkward males”
• “People use these images to decide where they fit, where they’re going to be
successful, and what’s appropriate for them to pursue” – Dr. Sapna Cheryan
Factors that mattered the most to women who choose Computer Science:
• Social encouragement & positive reinforcement from family and peers
• Interest in puzzles and problem-solving
• Exposure: Opportunity to participate in Computer Science activities / coursework
Google, 2014

4. What does it all add up to?
Opportunity / Access
Exposure / Experience
Knowledge
+
+
Get girls and underrepresented
groups in the room
Let them know what engineers do,
and that it can be a rewarding career
Get them doing engineering!
Engineering Interest
It’s a simple formula

5. Approach 1: Roll out the welcome mat
• Absent a formal invitation, stereotypes come into play
• For example, an after-school “engineering club”:
• Each child will reflect on whether they belong there
• Often, girls reflect on stereotypes and self-select out
• Counteract stereotypes by explicitly inviting an under-
represented group, for example:
• Girls Who Code
• Black Girls Code
• SWE’s own Invent It, Build It event for MS girls
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE’s) SEEK summer camp
These are just a few examples!

6. Approach 2: Go where they are
• You can incorporate more under-represented groups into
engineering by going where they are
• Can be geographic or demographic, for example:
• Girl Scouts: Badges related to STEM
• Hack the Hood (Oakland, CA)
• Techbridge (Oakland, Seattle, San Jose, DC)
• Or, go everywhere:
• Code.org: Bringing an “Hour of Code” into schools across the
country
• Kids can self-select out of after-school programs and camps – but
not mainstream education
These are just a few examples

7. Examples of the results
• Techbridge: 14,000+ girls, 96% of whom thing engineering
is a good career for women
• Code.org: 6 million students, of which 43% are female,
37% are Black or Hispanic
• NSBE’s SEEK: 3500 students since 2007, 81% of the
attendees it made them more interested in engineering
• Girls Who Code: 3860 girls in 29 states since 2012
All statistics courtesy of the organizations’ web sites

8. Call to Action: What can I do?
ENCOURAGE
“Wow. You seem like you love to solve
problems. Have you ever thought of doing
Engineering or Computer Science?”
CONNECT
“Did you know there is an <after-school
program, camp, online site> that would let
you learn about and try out engineering?”
INITIATE
Not enough opportunities in your area?
Maybe you can start something! You might
use local organizations like SWE and Girl
Scouts to help you get started
2 minutes 10 minutes
VOLUNTEER
Find a SWE Outreach activity, volunteer
for a local organization – or just ask to
come to a school and do a project one
day. Schools love this!
2 hours (more time)
DO YOU KNOW ANY
CAPABLE YOUNG
PEOPLE AGED 6-20?

9. Final Thought
For capable young people, aged 6-20, that
happen to not match stereotypes:
If YOU don’t
encourage them
toward Engineering,
WHO will???

10. Thank You!
Find me at:
Email: mliu@2025labs.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/melissaliu
Find 2025 Labs at:
Grownups’ site: www.2025labs.com
Kids’ site: www.2025kids.com
Facebook: facebook.com/2025Labs
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/2025-labs

11. Research cited
• “Women Who Choose Computer Science: What Really
Matters”, Google, 2014
• http://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.wenca.cn/en/us/edu/pdf/w
omen-who-choose-what-really.pdf
• “How interest girls in computer science and engineering?
Shift the stereotypes”, University of Washington, 2015
• http://www.washington.edu/news/2015/02/11/how-to-interest-girls-in-
computer-science-and-engineering-shift-the-stereotypes/
• Survey of Teen’s Perceptions of Engineering, Intel, 2011
• http://media.oregonlive.com/hillsboro_news/other/Intel%20Engineering%2
0Survey%20Results.pdf

12. What’s the recipe for success?
WELCOME MAT
…in the framing of the
organization, such as
“Girls”, “Black Girls”,
etc.
ENCOURAGEMENT
…specific guidance or
feedback to someone
who might otherwise
lack it
EXPOSURE
…to knowledge,
practice, career info
ACCESS
…e.g, geographic
availability in
underserved
communities, or “all
kids”