In an ambitious move to level the playing field in tech, Girl Geek Academy are challenging high school principals to ensure their girls are enrolled in “AI High”, a groundbreaking new program teaching teenagers AI skills.
The Telstra Foundation have backed Girl Geek Academy to launch “AI High” – a community of 2000 high school girls and non-binary folk to learn AI together.
“We’ll be creating a community of high school students making friends, building AI together and preparing themselves for a bright career in technology,” Girl Geek Academy Co-founder Lisy Kane said, noting the initiative promises to equip young women and gender-diverse students with the necessary tools to become leaders in the technology sector.
“Learning AI is pivotal in closing the gender divide in tech. AI High will enable young women to not only benefit from, but be play a leadership role in the creation of new AI technologies,” said Kane, an experienced leader in AI for game development.
A report released last week from ANU shows a significant drop in student enrolment in information and communication technologies (ICT) subjects in Years 11 and 12 in Australian schools, which leads to fewer students likely to pursue ICT in further education and professional careers.
“Studying technology subjects is often an isolating experience within your own school: there’s a lack of community and it’s rare to find mentors who are passionate about sharing new technology. However “pair programming” with mates is critical to building new tech, and this program will connect young people at a national level to work together and meet new friends, regardless of where they live,” Kane said.
School principals, teachers and parents are being asked to share the EOI for AI High with high school students they know and to reach out to the Girl Geek Academy team with any questions.
To express interest in the AI High program, visit: www.girlgeekacademy.com/ai-high
Technology companies looking to get involved and potentially collaborate with Girl Geek Academy are also encouraged to get in touch. Further details about the program will evolve in the coming weeks as more partners are announced.
About Girl Geek Academy:
Girl Geek Academy is a social enterprise dedicated to achieving gender equality in the technology industry. We aim to bring one million women and girls into technology careers by 2030 through a range of programs, most recently teaching A.I. skills to over 1,000 high school girls. We work to tackle structural issues facing women and girls in technology by influencing families, corporations, government, schools, and the tech community. In 2014 we ran the first all-women hackathon in the world, #SheHacks, and our community has been based on making friends in tech globally ever since.
