Project seeks women for computing careers

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The National Science Foundation is funding a project designed to increase the number of women pursuing careers in computer-related fields.

Purdue University Professor Alka Harriger was awarded a $1.1 million, three-year grant to work with high school teachers and counselors. Harriger, assistant head of the school's Department of Computer and Information Technology, wrote the grant proposal for the project that's designed to reach those who have direct influence on students' career choices.

"We are pursuing this project because of the dramatic decline of female freshmen interested in computing programs in the last several years," said Harriger. "One national study found that female enrollment in college computer programs is down from 40 percent in 2000 to between 8 percent and 15 percent today."

Harriger will lead the project in collaboration with Associate Professors Kyle Lutes and Buster Dunsmore.

"It's crucial that women be represented in information-technology fields," said Harriger. "Men and women look at things differently, so it only makes sense that for a product like software to appeal to all audiences, both men and women should be involved in its creation."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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