Gr8 Designs for Gr8 Girls is a program founded by Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto

Department of Computer Science (University of Toronto)

The Department of Computer Science at the University of Toronto is an administrative unit within the Faculty of Arts and Science. Established on 1 July 1964, the department is currently one of the highest ranked computer science departments in the world, placing first amongst Canadian universities...

 Professor Michelle Craig to support the women in computing

Women in computing

Global concerns about current and future roles of women in computing occupations gained more importance with the emerging information age. These concerns motivated public policy debates addressing gender equality as computer applications exerted increasing influence in society...

 initiative. Gr8 Designs offers students the opportunity to learn about computer science with exciting and creative activities. Professors, graduate, and undergraduate students work with the Grade 8 girls to develop computer science skills and create projects of their own.

Purpose

Michelle Craig reviewed a number of middle school yearbooks, specifically the grade 8 girl’s section of future aspirations and noticed that very few of the young women aspired to a career in science but often listed careers that could be connected to this field such as design. Craig describes the purpose of the program as “Lots of girls write off computer science (CS) or math before they get to high school so we want to catch them before that point because we believe that they (grade 8 girls) would like CS if they were exposed to it earlier."

Participating Universities

In the spring of 2010 Gr8 Designs for Gr8 Girls will be held at four different University departments:

• University of Guelph
  University of Guelph
  The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
  
  
• McMaster University
  McMaster University
  McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
  
  
• University of Western Ontario
  University of Western Ontario
  The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
  
  
• The University of Toronto