1. Dr Sue Black Centre for Systems and Software Engineering School of Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics South Bank University London SE1 0AA blackse@sbu.ac.uk http://www.sbu.ac.uk/blackse

2. Why BCSWomen? Experiences at conferences in software engineering Women in Science conference BCS Central London branch and LondonBCSWomen BCSWomen

4. BCSWomen objectives: Provide an opportunity for networking Provide support for women working in IT Support and encourage women and girls entering IT/IS careers Provide a central contact for media channels requiring comment of issues relating to women in IS/IT Assist women in IS/IT to find, and become, mentors for other women Contribute to BCS policy

5. Lift off! 29 th October 2001 First topics: –Introductions – >100 messages on the first day –Advice: programming, careers, courses etc. –Difficult situations/bad experiences

6. Current projects/activities Running: raceforlife + T-shirts Schools project Help with CVs – CV clinic Brownies/Guides computing badge Regional events – recent joint event with IBM Working with other relevant groups/organisations eg. WES, AWISE

8. Recent news/Highlights 2003 Free mentoring negotiated: www.mentorset.org.ukwww.mentorset.org.uk BCSWomen now a Women’s National Commission partner - official, independent, advisory body giving the views of women to the Government BCSWomen member Karen Petrie of Huddersfield University won research scholarship to work @ NASA We are setting up regional groups We want to produce a digital archive of women in computing starting with those who worked at Bletchley Park

10. To join BCSWomen email: sue@bcs.org.uk BCSWomen homepage: http://www.bcs.org.uk/bcswomen