The upcoming blackcomputeHER conference will be held on April 2 - 4, 2020 at the Embassy Suites DC Convention Center. The purpose of this conference is to offer a communal space that will allow Black women in computing (and across tech more broadly) to form shared learning experiences so that we might better support – and by extension, increase the success of – this unique group.

The 2020 conference theme is "Exploring the Power of Data in our Digital Lives and Beyond". Workshops and sessions will focus on the following guiding questions:

1. What are the unique needs and experiences of Black women and girls in Computing+Tech across all sectors of society?
2. How do we cultivate and advocate for spaces where the future of Black women in Computing+Tech can thrive?
3. How do we harness the collective potential and power of Black women in Computing+Tech for greater impact in our communities and society at large?

If you have not already, please consider attending the conference and also presenting on your experiences and/or expertise on issues related to Black women in computing/tech. Students (undergraduate and graduate) are welcome to attend and submit a proposal to present, as well as industry professionals, researchers, and allies/advocates.

The proposal submission form is HERE and the link to register for the conference is HERE.

The Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at University of Nevada, Reno is currently seeking applications for PhD Fellowships related to the theme Rebuilding the Nation’s Infrastructure for Resilience to Extreme Events, for a start date of August 2020 or January 2021. Fellowships are funded through the Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) program. Selection will be based on academic qualifications and financial need. Applications are especially encouraged from candidates that are underrepresented in engineering.

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at University of Nevada Reno is pleased to announce the availability of GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) PhD Fellowships. This GAANN program willsupport fellowships related to the general theme Rebuilding the Nation’s Infrastructure for Resilience to Extreme Events. GAANN Fellows will receive a need-based stipend of up to $34,000 per year, and tuition and fees are covered by the fellowship.

The CEE Department houses a variety of state-of-the-art experimental facilities, including two structural laboratories with a re-locatable four-shake table array capable of simulating large earthquakes for system level experiments; advanced laboratory facilities for testing soils, materials and full scale pavements; traffic engineering laboratories; and an array of laboratories for research in water reuse, environmental biology, and environmental chemistry. Fellows will select a CEE faculty advisor, and work with their advisor to select a scope of research that is suited to their interests. Fellows will have opportunities for an enhanced graduate school experience that grants student autonomy, develops strong peer networks, and provides overall better preparation for a career in academia. As an essential program element, Fellows will receive teaching instruction from the Engineering Education program, and be given the opportunity to practice by co-teaching with a faculty mentor.

Applicants are currently sought for a fellowship start date of Fall 2020 or Spring 2021. Fellows must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, demonstrate financial need via evaluation of the FAFSA, qualify for admission to the PhD program in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and aspire to a career in research and/or teaching. Applications are especially encouraged from candidates that are underrepresented in engineering.

For more information, please visit our website:

unr.edu/cee/graduate-program/gaann-fellowships

The first program, the SoNIC Summer Research Workshop (https://www.cs.cornell.edu/workshop/sonic/), is targeted to undergraduates and master's students. The theme of the workshop centers around cloud computing (systems and networking) and data analytics, but students with background in CS, IS, EE, Math, and Physics are eligible to apply. The SoNIC Summer Research Workshop hosted by Cornell University and originally created in collaboration with Howard University is aimed at significantly increasing the number of underrepresented minorities pursuing and obtaining a PhD in computer science. It is designed to encourage undergraduate or masters students to pursue and achieve a PhD by experiencing computer science research firsthand using state-of-the-art methodologies and approaches. 

See flyer at: https://www.cs.cornell.edu/sites/default/files/shared/sonic_flyer_2020.pdf

The second program, the Summer School on Designing Technology for Social Impact (https://impact.infosci.cornell.edu/), is targeted to rising seniors and graduate students at any stage. In this summer school, we will explore how technologies express their designers' values, analyzes what values and voices are commonly embodied in technology, and looks at ways to design technologies to promote alternative perspectives and positive social impact. Students from a variety of disciplines are invited to attend, including - but not restricted to - informatics, computer science, science and technology studies, communication, and product design. Our goal is to build a strong cohort of up-and-coming researchers working in this area and connect them to relevant research and faculty. 

See flyer at: https://impact.infosci.cornell.edu/social_impact_flyer.pdf

On February 27, 2020, the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS) and its sponsors and partners will present the third Taking Nature Black Conference at a new location: The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) located at 4000 Jones Bridge Road in Chevy Chase, MD. 

The conference will include thought-provoking speaker presentations and panels with regional and national environmental leaders and feature discussions of climate change, environmental justice, and environmental joy!

Register at: https://actionnetwork.org/ticketed_events/taking-nature-black-invitation-2020?source=direct_link&

View the Taking Nature Black 2018 Video Re-cap at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=236&v=J57CA1yAAew&feature=emb_title