October 2021
UBC brings computer science to life to encourage girls into tech careers
By Melanie Hall
Share post:Read time: approx 1 mins
Girls from city schools are set to perform a virtual reality patient healthcheck, take part in a ‘Wall Street’ trade-off and create digital art over a day of activities to promote women in tech at University College Birmingham.
Twenty pupils from Greenwood Academy and Cockshut Hill School are due to take part in a series of workshops around computer science and digital careers as part of Ada Lovelace Day on 12 October.
Ada is considered the first computer programmer, writing about a computer, the Analytical Engine. While it was never built, she realised the computer could follow simple instructions, a program, to perform a complex calculation.
Held within the University’s range of digital facilities, students will also get to try their hand at web design as part of a computer science session.
"Tech is involved in every career now and we wanted to showcase how exciting it can be."
The cutting-edge facilities – spread across four campuses as part of a £130 million investment – include a digital creative studio, healthcare simulation suite, computer science labs, financial trading suite and prosthetics suite.
Britain’s tech industry is booming, attracting more than £6bn of venture capital funding in 2018. However, the percentage of women working in tech has barely changed in 10 years and today, women make up just 17% of IT specialists in the UK.
Through the 'women in tech' day and the inspiration of Ada Lovelace, the University is encouraging young girls and women to think about how technology can help them tap into a whole range of career paths and that tech is an exciting sector to study and work in - rather than being daunted by a fourth industrial revolution.
In pictures: Our Ada Lovelace Day ambassadors
The workshops will be led by the University’s own female ambassadors for women in tech, including award-winning prosthetics artist and lecturer Alexandra Wathey, who has worked on Doctor Who and Game of Thrones.
Alongside fellow lecturer Stacey Hall, she will be showing the students how to create a digital sculpture using high-tech ZBrush design software.
Lecturer Katie Broughton will be hosting the simulation in healthcare workshop, lecturer Kanwal Rauf will be sharing her skills in computer programming, while lecturer Nicola Sandford will be leading the ‘Working Wall Street’ workshop.
Tsai Lovett, Deputy Dean for Teaching, Learning and Digital at University College Birmingham, said: “Studying a technological subject at university involves creativity, communication and problem-solving skills. Tech is involved in every career now and we wanted to showcase how exciting it can be.
“And you don’t have to dedicate yourself to one thing. You can start with something that looks interesting and progress into another – if anything, tech gives you more flexibility than most careers to do that.
“Developments in genetics, artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology are all building and amplifying one another – if you start learning one set of skills, you might just find they can easily translate into another.”
Are you interested in a career in computing and the digital sector? Discover our full range of college and undergraduate courses within our Department of Computing and Digital.
Check out our latest news stories
![](/media/wl4ddhsk/bake-off-professionals-ajay-petra-bharat-john-thumbnail.png?width=540&height=304&format=webp&quality=80&v=1dac942fb497210)
Bakery stars are cream of the crop on Bake Off: The Professionals
Birmingham College of Food has two teams of ex-students on Bake Off: The Professionals this year, with the teams of Ajay and…
Read more![](/media/mhjhxz42/daniel-bennett1_main.jpg?rxy=0.440804522009316,0.4013469595520576&width=540&height=304&format=webp&quality=80&v=1dac19144847100)
Graduate Daniel celebrated in top 30 under 30 rising stars in hospitality
Hospitality graduate Daniel Bennett has been recognised as one of 30 of the industry’s top rising stars under the ag…
Read more![](/media/pepjuqls/construction-students.jpg?rxy=0.493360439709569,0.38828354556657396&width=540&height=304&format=webp&quality=80&v=1dac6ec6b89deb0)
Green Construction Advisory Panel Midlands launches at University
The panel comprises training providers, building services, housing, and construction businesses, and is supported by governme…
Read more![](/media/2kce2xce/warwick-bbq-4.jpg?rxy=0.6492623170053277,0.5481218997752085&width=540&height=304&format=webp&quality=80&v=1dac6f9feac1de0)
University College Birmingham and University of Warwick celebrate partnership
Over 100 students and staff from across University College Birmingham and University of Warwick enjoyed the event…
Read more![](/media/mahbuovq/dk1.jpg?rxy=0.5155216719682082,0.26383574214958755&width=540&height=304&format=webp&quality=80&v=1dac642284e9230)
Blog | Being an LGBTQ+ student celebrating the beautiful month of Pride
The purpose of this blog is to celebrate Pride Month and share my experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community here…
Read more![](/media/pduhnebi/gbsiothubopening1.jpg?width=540&height=304&format=webp&quality=80&v=1da5f4661e380e0)
FE Principal and Dean for STEM makes Top 100 Women in Engineering list
Rosa Wells is a Highly Commended Finalist of the Women's Engineering Society's Top 50 Women in Engineering awards as par…
Read more