The Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) shows that women only earn 18% of computer science bachelor’s degrees in the United States despite the high job demand in computer science. It remains largely a male-dominated field. Keeping this fact in mind, MetroHacks, a technology education NGO empowering high schoolers across the United States, has come up with a new and innovative project to provide real-world STEM education opportunities to high school students across the United States. At the forefront of this mission is SruthiKurada, a rising junior at AMSA Charter School, a high school in Marlborough and a lead director of MetroHacks and Jiyoon Choi, Anna Grankin, Nidhi Pillai, Serena Behera, and its founder: Shrunothra Ambati.
Ms.Kurada is currently studying algorithmic design outside of school, doing biostatistical research at Harvard Medical School, and building disease diagnostic tools through audio-based machine learning. “EmpowHer is a year-long competition for high school girls to create a computer science project that benefits their community. Through our competition, each participant can connect with a mentor: an experienced engineer from industry and academia to guide participants along the process of creating their project. Additionally, participants can take part in our 8-12 weeks courses that help them learn technical skills that they can use to bring their project ideas to life,” says MsKurada on the initiative according to IndianNewengland.com.
MetroHacks have successfully organised several high school coding competitions in Boston, New York, Washington DC, and Atlanta over the past 5 years to promote STEM education among young women and provide them with the opportunity to hone their technical skills in an inclusive environment. The competition also enables the students to win thousands in college scholarships.
To know more about the EmpowHer competition and participate in it, visit p the organization’s website: https://metrohacks.org/empowher/competition.html
The important dates are:
Registration Closes – January 1, 2021
Submission Deadline – May 31, 2021
Finalists Announced – June 30, 2021 Virtual Award Ceremony – July 15, 2021
