About Us

History of WiCS@Brown

Women in Computer Science (WiCS) was formed by female undergraduate students at Brown in the late 1980s as an affinity group of Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE). The goal of WiCS is to increase the participation of women in the field of Computer Science. WiCS works to this end through its social, mentoring and outreach programs.

WiCS is responsible for organizing social events for women in the department to meet and get to know each other. Often these events include invited guests such as women from industry and academia.

WiCS implements a mentoring program we call the Mentoring Chain. The Chain is based on a pyramid model in which female professors mentor female graduate students; female graduate students mentor female upperclassmen; and female upperclassmen mentor women just starting in the department. The Chain extends outside the department through the WiCS outreach program.

As part of its outreach program, WiCS is responsible for coordinating and running the Artemis Project, a free technology camp for Rhode Island 9th grade girls hosted at Brown each summer.

FAQs

What is WiCS?

Women in Computer Science (WiCS) is the Brown CS affinity group of Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE). The goal of WiCS is to increase the participation of women in the field of Computer Science. WiCS works to this end through its social, mentoring and outreach programs.

How do I contact the WiCS@Brown?

Please visit our contact page.

Who are the current WiCS coordinators?

The 2007 WiCS coordinators are Tatyana Dyshlova and Lian Rae Garton. To contact the coordinators, go to our contact page.

What are the responsibilities of the WiCS coordinators?

The WiCS coordinators keep track of the Brown women in Computer Science (i.e., maintain gwics at list and wics at listserv). They maintain this website. They organize social, career, research and tech events. They coordinate the mentoring and outreach programs. They liaison with WiSE and other women-interest groups. They work towards retaining and attracting women in Computer Science by building a safe, strong, social female environment in department.

How do I propose or organize a WiCS event?

Contact us. We are always eager to here event ideas.

Who funds WiCS activities?

WiCS activities are funded through the Industrial Partners Program. We greatly appreciate your support!

Does WiCS support tech talks and undergrad/graduate recruiting?

Absolutely, as long as the organizing company is an Industrial Partners Program. Otherwise, yes, under specific circumstances we can still support tech talks, but those talks should not be used for recruiting purposes (e.g., if you have a friend at XYZ.com who's doing interesting work, and that work is particularly relevant to WiCS, then WiCS can invite her to give a seminar talk, but she has to understand that the seminar is not an opportunity to recruit - she should talk about the research, and not about job opportunities at XYZ.com). WiCS coordinators, when in doubt, contact the Industrial Partners Program director.
We will post relevant job opportunities to the group, regardless of the IPP status of the originating company.

Can I join the mentoring program?

Absolutely! Contact the WiCS coordinators to sign up to be a mentor and/or mentee.