Student Blog
Brought to you from your @GoogleStudents friends. From pre-university to PhD (and beyond), we got you.
Celebrating diversity in STEM at the 2012 AISES National Conference
December 20, 2012
Google was a proud participant of the
2012 AISES National Conference
, which was held in Anchorage, Alaska in early November. This annual conference is organized by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and it gives Native American students from around the country the opportunity to attend various STEM related sessions such as tech talks, career development workshops, poster sessions and their annual career fair.
Group shot in our Google earmuffs after dinner!
As an exhibitor at the career fair, Googlers met many motivated students who are building upon their STEM career interests by making the most of the opportunities presented to them both on campus and in the industry. We chatted with a number of students pursuing computer science and IT and were inspired to hear some of their stories about how they continue to pursue their interest in STEM, despite limited access to resources.
Another highlight of the conference was engaging with our 2012
Google AISES Conference Travel Scholarship
recipients and a handful of earlier
Google AISES Scholarship
recipients at a Google-sponsored dinner. We had great conversations about their individual career interests and what it’s like to work at Google while consuming delicious Alaskan food.
Google is proud to partner with the
AISES Organization
on diversity initiatives, including the 2013 Google AISES Scholarship. Applications will open in January 2013.
For more information on all of our scholarships and student programs, please visit
www.google.com/students
.
Posted by Stephanie Chan, Tech University Programs
Google Games comes to Japan
December 19, 2012
The
U.S. born Google Games
made its way to Japan on November 24, 2012! Google Games is a fun-filled event designed to bring some of the Google culture to students and campus. This time, our first-ever Google Games took place in Kyoto and brought together 78 students from Kansai (the southern-central) region of Japan. Students were randomly allocated into groups of four to five to work on trivia questions, puzzle and coding questions, and a lego building competition. Groups were given points based on their performance and the top six groups were awarded Google swag.
The day kicked off with trivia questions such as “What day of the week would it be in ten thousand years’ time from today?” Another question asked students to guess the number of post boxes in Japan that had either increased or decreased between 2006 and 2011. Surprisingly 15 out of 17 groups got it wrong, estimating that the figure had increased (it actually decreased by 6,891 post boxes!). It surely made Googlers wonder how many of these students have actually used a post box in the past few years...
Here is an example puzzle question
The competition heated up even more as students moved on to tackle the puzzle and coding questions. Each group had to come up with a single answer and get it checked and scored by Googlers every time they finished a question. The scoreboard in the room was constantly being updated throughout the game, adding extra buzz and nail-biting moments as students watched over the changing scores.
The final game was Lego challenge. By this time, almost every student was up on their feet. A team of Googlers also entered the competition eagerly hoping to outcompete the students, but the Googlers were no match to the teams of competitive students.
The day was wrapped up with a mingling time for students to speak with Googlers. Many left happily saying that they got to learn some of the Google culture through the event. Some even said that they loved having the chance to use different parts of their brains.
We hope to be able to host another Google Games in Japan in the near future! If you are interested in finding out the answer to the above puzzle question, please see our
Google+ posting here
.
Posted by Yumi Oishi, People Programs Specialist, Google Games Japan Team
Women Techmakers for social good
December 18, 2012
Cross-posted from the
Google Developers Blog
By Phoebe Peronto, Developer Marketing
Last week on
GDL Presents: Women Techmakers
, we kicked off the series kicked off with a tour of the
Kiva
API from Chairwoman Julie Hanna, then followed with
Code for America
’s Jennifer Pahlka explaining her "Peace Corps for Geeks" and solving civic problems with technology. Sasha Laundy of
Codecademy
introduced us to scalable ways to teach the world to code, and the series culminated with Kim Polese – the first Product Manager for Java – sharing the value of open source technology for making innovation universally accessible.
Our latest group of Women Techmakers are using tech to drive real social change and we thank them for joining us. Read on for video highlights and news of #WTM’s global launch!
Last week: series highlights
Women Techmakers Give Back with Kiva.org
Kiva.org
chairwoman and technologist Julie Hanna walk us through a data visualization of Kiva’s global impact.
Women Techmakers Give Back with Code for America
Founder Jennifer Pahlka talks
Code for America
’s latest civic startups and her "Peace Corps for Geeks".
Women Techmakers Give Back with Codecademy
Codecademy
’s Sasha Laundy introduces us to the easiest way to learn to code.
Women Techmakers Give Back with ClearStreet, Java
ClearStreet CEO and first Java Product Manager at Sun, Kim Polese, talks being a serial entrepreneur and maturing with a company to be an effective CEO.
This Week: We’re going global
Check out our latest interviews with women techmakers from Israel:
Thursday, 12/20
: Women Techmakers & Rony Ross of Panorama Software | 2:30 pm PST | 22:30 UTC |
Watch live
|
Add to calendar
Rony Ross is the Founder, Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Panorama Software Ltd. Join hosts Daniela Raijman-Aharonov, Engineering Manager and Software Engineer in Google Technical Infrastructure, and Michal Segalov, Software Engineer in Infrastructure, as they discuss Ross’ role in expanding Panorama’s global presence, once the leading developer and marketer of software products for OLAP and BI in the Israeli market.
Thursday, 12/20
: Women Techmakers & Yael Karov of
Ginger Software
| 3:30 pm PST | 23:30 UTC |
Watch live
|
Add to calendar
Yael Karov is the Founder and CEO of Ginger Software, a service built from Karov’s 20+ years of experience in the field of natural language processing and machine learning that helps users improve their online English language communication. Michal Segalov, Software Engineer in Google Technical Infrastructure, and Dana Gabel, Software Engineer in Google Identity & Knowledge, host Karov in the studio to talk about her successful track record in the commercial launch of innovative products to market.
Watch anytime, anywhere
Didn’t get a chance to tune in live? No worries. All of these sessions, plus the first WTM series are available at our
new WTM home
.
We’re taking techmaker nominations. Share with
+Google Developers
and
@googledevs
who you’d like to see on the next Women Techmakers series. Use hashtag (#WTM) and +mention your favorite maker women.
Phoebe Peronto is an Associate Product Marketing Manager on the Developer Marketing team here at Google. She’s a foodie who has a penchant for traveling, politics, and running. Oh, and of course...Go Cal Bears!
Posted by
Scott Knaster
, Editor
Help train the next generation of computer scientists with a CS4HS grant from Google
December 13, 2012
Throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa, teaching computer science at the high school and middle school level presents diverse challenges. For example, in Africa, teachers have limited access to training and curriculum resources. In the U.K. or Germany, teachers sometimes struggle to keep up with fast changing technology or have difficulty demonstrating that computer science can be a rewarding and “cool” career choice.
Robotics training at TU Munich, Germany
To help teachers address these challenges, the annual
Google CS4HS
(Computer Science for High School) grant program provides funding to universities, community colleges, and technical schools to work with local high schools in order to give teachers the tools they need to bring computer science and computational thinking into the classroom.
With the CS4HS grant from Google, faculty can develop three to five day hands-on, interactive workshops for teachers to learn how to teach computer science (CS) to their students. Some programs are geared toward CS teachers, while others are for non-CS teachers who want to incorporate CS into their curriculum. No two programs are exactly alike, and it is the creative and passionate material that organizers develop which makes this program so unique—and successful.
In 2012, the CS4HS program funded 50 computer science education projects across 28 countries in EMEA. This enabled some very exciting projects which collectively impacted thousands of teachers and their students.
Strathmore University
hosted teacher training workshops
in rural areas in Kenya, introducing attendees to basic computing concepts and improvements to teaching methods.
TU Delft
invited computer science specialists from research and industry to discuss the latest developments and present teaching material and tools that can be used in the classroom. At
King Saud University
in Saudi Arabia, high school female students learnt more about computer science concepts and computer science as a field of study.
Teacher training workshops at Strathmore University, Kenya
2013 marks the fifth consecutive year for the CS4HS program. Hundreds of students and thousands of teachers have attended these workshops to date. The alumni are connected to each other, other educators and organizers through the
teacher’s forum
,
which also enables teachers interested in CS education to join the discussion and ask questions.
The application for 2013 funding is now open until February 16, 2013. Each region has a slightly different application process, so visit
www.cs4hs.com
to find specific details for your region, as well as information on the types of projects that are funded and the requirements for the application proposal.
We’re excited to help even more educators learn how to bring CS to their students, whether they’re teaching CS, maths, history, or any other subject. Together, we can help inspire the next generation of Computer Scientists.
Posted by Michelle Finnegan, EMEA University Relations
Women Techmakers give back
December 11, 2012
Cross-posted from the
Google Developers Blog
By Phoebe Peronto, Developer Marketing
Our
Women Techmakers
series is back for round two on
Google Developers Live
(GDL)! In the spirit of the holidays, hosts Megan Smith of Google[x], Lacy Caruthers (
Google.org
), Angela Lin (
YouTube
EDU), and Pavni Diwanji (
Google+
), sit down with women who are using their technical backgrounds to effect social change and make an impact. Join us in-studio Tuesday through Friday of this week at 2:30 pm PST to learn more about how Women Techmakers are giving back in big ways.
Tuesday, 12/11
: WTM & Julie Hanna - Board of Directors,
Kiva.org
| 2:30 pm PST | 22:30 UTC |
Watch live
|
Add to calendar
As a repeat entrepreneur, board director of
Kiva
, startup and venture advisor, and angel investor, Julie Hanna knows about giving back. Her work at Kiva, a crowdfunding pioneer leading the micro-lending marketplace, has been integral in touching over 800,000 low-income entrepreneurs in over 60 countries, adding up to more than $350M loans delivered. Radhika Malpani, Bridgette Sexton of
Google Ventures
, and Anita Yuen of
Google.org
dive into Julie’s experience using her technical skills to make social change.
Wednesday, 12/12
: WTM & Jennifer Pahlka -
Code for America
| 2:30 pm PST | 22:30 UTC |
Watch live
|
Add to calendar
Code for America
is a new kind of public service. Join hosts Chris DiBona and Lacy Caruthers in the GDL studio, as they sit down with Code for America founder and executive director Jennifer Pahlka to discuss how she is working on the technical side with web professionals and cities nationwide to promote public service and reboot government.
Thursday, 12/13
: WTM & Sasha Laundy -
Codecademy
| 2:30 pm PST | 22:30 UTC |
Watch live
|
Add to calendar
Codecademy
makes learning code easy and collaborative. From Women Who Code and Codecademy, Sasha Laundy joins Amanda Surya and Angela Lin for a discussion of how Codecademy makes learning code interactive, iterative, and fun. More minds are better than one!
Friday, 12/14
: WTM & Kim Polese -
ClearStreet Inc.
, Sun Microsystems | 2:30 pm PST | 22:30 UTC |
Watch live
|
Add to calendar
ClearStreet Inc.
, a social finance startup, is focused on helping people eliminate debt and achieve long-term financial health. Chairwoman and original Java Project Manager at Sun, Kim Polese, speaks with Megan Smith and Pavni Diwanji about her experience as a leading Silicon Valley entrepreneur and technology executive, and how her work with ClearStreet is impacting users’ daily lives.
Catch up on the
first WTM series
while you're getting ready for this week's lineup. Visit the
Google+ events to RSVP
, add the episodes to your Google calendar, tune in live on
GDL
, and
ask questions
of our on-air guests. And, most importantly, become part of the conversation by hashtagging #WTM posts on Google+.
Connect with us at
developers.google.com/live
. Tune in to live programming, check out the latest in Google tools and technologies, and learn how to make great apps.
Phoebe Peronto is an Associate Product Marketing Manager on the Developer Marketing team here at Google. She’s a foodie who has a penchant for traveling, politics, and running. Oh, and of course...Go Cal Bears!
Posted by
Scott Knaster
, Editor
Attending this year’s LISA Conference? We’ll see you there!
December 5, 2012
While it’s never a bad idea to spend December in San Diego, California, this December is going to be even better. That’s because San Diego is this year’s host to the Large Installation System Administration Conference, or
LISA Conference
. The LISA Conference is an important annual meeting of members of industry and academia to discuss advances in building, deploying, and managing large-scale systems — and this year, Google engineers and members of our University and Industry Programs teams will be there.
Not only will we be on hand to chat with students during the exhibition, we’ll also be hosting a coffee cart during the poster show (we love caffeine!). Both the exhibition and the poster show are open to all with free registration, so whether you are attending the conference or just lucky enough to find yourself in San Diego, please come visit us (dates, times, and details are below). If you do, you’ll get a chance to meet some of our Site Reliability Engineers, or SREs. SREs, once referred to as the ‘
world’s most intense pit crew
’, are the software engineers responsible for ensuring that all of Google’s services are fast and reliable for billions of users. It’s an elite team that combines software development, networking, and systems engineering expertise to build and run large scale, massively distributed, fault-tolerant software systems and infrastructure. The LISA conference is a great place for SREs to collaborate, learn, network — we hope you’ll join us!
Not able to join us for the LISA Conference?
Not to worry, we’ll post a recap of the conference here on the student blog.
Interested in SRE roles at Google?
We’re looking for SRE interns and new grads (those graduating before August 2013) to take on some big projects. To apply, submit your resume and transcript for either our software engineering
internship
or
new grad
role and when one of our recruiters reaches out to you, just indicate that you’re interested in Site Reliability.
Google @ LISA Conference
Google Coffee Cart
- Wednesday, December 12th - 7:30am - 10:00am - LISA’ 12 Posters/Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina (Grande Ballroom Foyer)
Google Exhibition Booth
- Wednesday, December 12th - noon - 7pm & Thursday, December 13th - 9:30am - Noon/Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
Both events are free, but registration is required. Register on-site or online before the conference
here
.
Posted by Ryan Hundley, University Programs
Upcoming Hangout On Air: EMEA Summer Trainee Engineering Program
December 4, 2012
On Wednesday, December 5th at 7:15 pm GMT we'll be hosting a Hangout On Air to talk about our
Summer Trainee Engineering Program
(STEP). STEP (formerly known as the Engineering Trainee Summer Program) is a technical internship program for students who have completed their first year of university studies by summer 2013. The program is aimed at students studying computer science or related subjects at a university in Europe, Middle East or Africa. The internship includes three main components: a software project, skills-based training, and professional development. We will have STEP cohorts in five offices this year: Israel, London, Munich, Krakow and Zurich.
Tune into to our Hangout On Air to learn more! RSVP
here
and submit your questions by posting publicly on Google+ with the hashtag #STEPhangout.
Posted by Farrah Djohan, Intern Programs
STEM is everywhere!
December 4, 2012
Ever wonder what a banana’s DNA looks like? Or how to make electricity using a soda can tab? Curious about what life is like working on a nuclear reactor? Budding inventors and innovators, tune in for deSTEMber, a month long program celebrating science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
DeSTEMber features daily activities, experiments and discussions via Google+ with partners like
National Geographic
,
CERN
,
Scientific American
,
California Academy of Science
, finalists of the Google Science Fair and many more. Learners of all ages can participate in a range of cool activities from making your own lava lamp to meeting a red tail boa constrictor to getting a first hand look at what the scientists at
SETI
are working on.
Are you a science enthusiast who loves to experiment? Don’t miss Google Science Fair Wednesdays. Thursdays will feature a Hangout On Air with the lineup of incredible partners and on Fridays, check out “In the Field Fridays” for the inside scoop on the most interesting career paths and mentorship in STEM.
DeSTEMber is presented by
Google Science Fair
and
Girlstart
, a nonprofit organization empowering girls to embrace STEM. To catch all the deSTEMber happenings, follow the
Google Science Fair
and
Girlstart
Google+ pages, check out the program’s official website,
www.destember.org
or follow the
#deSTEMber
hashtag on Google+.
Anyone can watch the Hangouts on the
Google Science Fair
and
Girlstart
pages, but if you'd like to actually join the live broadcast, please fill out this short
survey
.
Posted By Katie Yates, Google+ Marketing EDU
GDL Presents: Keeping the Internet Free & Open
December 3, 2012
Cross-posted from the
Google Developers Blog
More than 2 billion people around the world use the web to discover, work, share, and communicate. This week,
Google Developers Live
Presents
will host a series on Internet regulation and the future of our web. Airing Tuesday through Thursday at 3:30pm PST (23:30 UTC), technical, entrepreneurial, and policy experts weigh in on the economic and social impact of the Internet, as well as its future if we don’t take action.
Visit the
Google+ events
to RSVP, add the episodes to your Google calendar, tune in live on
GDL
, and
ask questions
of our on-air guests. And, most importantly,
raise your voice for a free and open web
.
Tuesday
: The State of Our Web | 3:30 pm PST | 23:30 UTC | Featuring
M-Lab
and the
Transparency Report
|
Watch live
|
Add to calendar
How can you tell if an application is being throttled? What are the trends in governments seeking access to users' data? Minds behind M-Lab and the Transparency report – two projects trying to empower Internet users with data about the state of the Internet – join us in-studio.
Wednesday
: Entrepreneurs on the #freeandopen web | 3:30 pm PST | 23:30 UTC | Featuring
Google for Entrepreneurs
and
Engine Advocacy
|
Watch live
|
Add to calendar
Google for Entrepreneurs
is helping startups around the world and
Engine Advocacy
is the startup voice in government. Learn more about what they’ve picked up along the way about the culture of successful communities of entrepreneurs, and policies on the table that may impact them.
Thursday
: Internet Freedom and the ITU | 3:30 pm PST | 23:30 UTC | Featuring
Access Now
,
Association for Progressive Communications
,
Centro de Technologia e Sociedade
(Brazil),
Fundacion Karisma
(Colombia),
Derechos Digitales
(Chile) |
Watch live
|
Add to calendar
This week, the world's governments are gathering in Dubai to discuss the future of the Internet. Some governments want to use this meeting to increase censorship and regulate the Internet. Hear from five leading advocacy groups from around the world about what’s at stake.
Connect with us at
developers.google.com/live
. Tune in to live programming, check out the latest in Google tools and technologies, and learn how to make great apps.
Derek Slater
defends the open Internet on Google's public policy team. He supports the company's global advocacy efforts on innovation policy, and recently helped launch
google.com/takeaction
.
Posted by
Scott Knaster
, Editor
Google Code-in 2012 contest starts today!
November 26, 2012
Cross-posted from the
Google Open Source Blog
… and Go! The
Google Code-in 2012
contest has officially started! If you are a 13-17 year old pre-university (high school) student interested in computer science who would like to learn more about open source software development while earning cool prizes, sign up on our
program site
today. Students have the opportunity to select tasks from 5 categories (coding, documentation/training, quality assurance, research/outreach and user interface) that are designed by
10 open source organizations
that will provide mentors for the students. Students earn certificates, t-shirts and Grand Prize Winners will win a trip for themselves and a parent or legal guardian to Google’s Mountain View California campus in 2013. Each of the 10 open source organizations will choose 2 of the 5 students that complete the most tasks with their organization as their Grand Prize Winners for a total of 20 Grand Prize Winners for Google Code-in 2012- that’s twice as many Grand Prize Winners as last year!
Last year, 542 students from 56 countries competed in the contest: this year you could be one of the students from around the world learning new skills and making new friends by experiencing the awesome world of open source development.
If you’d like to sign up, please review the
Contest Rules
and
Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) on our
program site
. You can join our
discussion list
to ask any other questions. For details on important dates for the contest, see the
calendar
. If you meet the eligibility requirements you can create your account on the
program site
and start claiming tasks today!
Join us today, Nov 26th, as members of Google’s Open Source Programs Office host a Live
Google Code-in Hangout on Air
on the Google Education page at 2pm PST to discuss details of the contest and to answer questions from viewers. If you can’t make the live Hangout on Air it will be recorded and posted on our
Google Open Source Student Programs YouTube Channel
within a couple of days.
The contest ends on January 14, 2013 so start claiming tasks today. Good luck and have fun!
By Stephanie Taylor, Google Open Source Programs
Application tips for the 2013 Google Scholarships in Europe, Middle East and Africa
November 21, 2012
Below you'll find the recording from our recent Hangout On Air where a panel of Googlers discussed the two 2013 Google Scholarships for Europe, Middle East and Africa: the
Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship
and the
Google Scholarship for Students with Disabilities
.
The panel consisted of a former scholarship recipient finalist (now full-time employee at Google) and senior judges who sit on the application review committee. They discussed what we look for when reviewing scholarship applications, what the application process looks like, and general tips for those interested in applying.
Both scholarships are now open and the deadline to apply is February 1, 2013. You can find the application for the Anita Borg Scholarship at
http://www.google.com/anitaborg/emea
. You can find the application for the Scholarship for Students with Disabilities at
http://google.com/studentswithdisabilities-europe
.
Posted by Efrat Aghassy, University Programs Specialist, Europe, Middle East and Africa
Discover the world of open source with Google Code-in 2012
November 20, 2012
Cross posted from the
Official Google Blog
Every time you send a text, check a webpage or post a status update, you’re using open source software. The Internet is made of open source. But have you ever created any yourself? With the
Google Code-in
contest, pre-university students (13-17 years old) can learn more and create open source software that people all over the world can use—and win cool prizes along the way.
Starting Monday, November 26 and for the following 50 days, contest participants will work on fun online tasks for
10 different open source organizations
. Possible challenges include documentation, marketing outreach, software coding, user experience research and more.
Participants earn points for each task they successfully complete and can earn prizes like T-shirts and certificates of completion. This year we’re doubling the number of grand prize winners to 20 talented students, who will win a trip to Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. They’ll spend a day getting a tour of the “Googleplex,” meeting and talking with Google engineers, plus enjoy another full day exploring San Francisco and other surprises.
Some of the 2011 Google Code-in Grand Prize Winners by the Golden Gate Bridge
Last year, 542 students from 56 countries and 360 schools completed 3,054 tasks during the eight-week contest. This year we want to encourage even more students to participate in the contest and learn about open source development. If you’d like to sign up, please review our
Frequently Asked Questions
and the
contest rules
on our
program site
. You can also watch our
screencast
, check out some
sample tasks
from last year’s contest and join our
discussion list
for any other questions. For details on important dates for the contest, see the
timeline
. You can register for your account on the
program site
when the contest opens on Monday, November 26 at 9:00am PST.
Finally, our Open Source Programs team will be hosting a
Hangout on Air
on the Google Education page November 26 at 2:00pm PST to discuss the details of the Google Code-in contest and answer any questions.
We hope you’ll spend your winter (or summer, for our friends in the southern hemisphere) learning about the ins and outs of open source development through hands-on experience. Ready...set...
By Stephanie Taylor, Open Source Programs
Check out the recording from our Technical Internships Hangout On Air
November 14, 2012
Last week we hosted a Hangout On Air with a few of our current technical interns and intern hosts. They talked about their experiences as part of the internship program at Google and gave us a sneak peak into what the program is like. You can watch the video from the Hangout on Air below and learn more about available internship opportunities in our North America offices at
google.com/students/intern
.
Posted by Jacqueline Pan, University and Intern Programs
Launch Your Career - Apply for an internship at Google in Europe, Middle East and Africa
November 8, 2012
It’s that time of year when most of our summer interns have returned back to campus, and we begin our search for the next class of technical interns who are ready to make an impact in 2013. It’s also a nice time to reflect on all the fun intern activities that have taken place such as hiking trips in the
Swiss Alps
, riding segways through
Munich
in the rain and visiting salt mines in
Krakow
.
In addition to all the fun, interns in EMEA contribute to large scale projects, help launch products and features, attend seminars, take part in competitions, meet lots of smart people from all over the world and sometimes, get to witness a little bit of history through the first
intern exchange visit
with CERN!
Interns in EMEA have the opportunity to work in 12 different countries and take part in different programs to suit their skills and background. This year we introduced
STEP
(Summer Trainee Engineering Program) internships for engineering students
who have completed the first year of their university studies. The program is based in London, Munich, Krakow and Zurich. Applications for the 2013 STEP internships
(formerly Engineering Trainee Summer Program)
are now open, check out the
application page
on Google Students site for more information.
In addition to STEP, there is a specific program for students who study computer science at an African University. The Africa Trainee Program is based in Zurich and is an opportunity to spend the summer working with engineers and program managers on the Emerging Markets team. Franklin Ochieng, an intern from this year’s class, shared his experience as an intern in the
Diary of a Summer Intern
series and had this to say:
Here at Google, I have learnt best practices, I have learnt to optimize, I have learnt to secure, I have learnt to design, I have learnt foresight, I have learnt teamwork, I have learnt to pay attention to detail. I've seen my code improve tremendously throughout the summer thanks to this review process. Basically, I have learnt to code like the professionals, like a real programmer.
Applications for this program are also open now, check out our
application page
for more information. You must be a student and you must be studying at a university based in Africa.
If you are interested in becoming part of any of our intern programs in EMEA,
apply
here for our 2013 internships. You’ll have the chance to work on impactful projects and have a world class internship experience!
Posted by Emma Edwards, College Recruiter - Europe, Middle East and Africa
My Summer @ Google: Summer Trainee Engineering Program
November 7, 2012
As the last of our EMEA Summer Trainee Engineering Program (STEP) interns finish up for summer 2012, we sat down with two of our London based interns to discuss their time at Google, what their plans are for the future and quizzed them for more insights into STEP for next year’s students! We’re also pleased to announce that applications are available for
STEP 2013
.
Tell us your name, university, major and any other relevant background info.
Elena: My name is Elena, I’m currently going into my second year at
Bucharest University
, studying computer science. The last relevant thing I did prior to STEP was a Girls Programming Camp at college. I first started programming in high school but participated in mathematics competitions before that.
Mariana: My name is Mariana, I’m currently going into my third year at the
Politehnica University
in Bucharest, studying computer science. In high school I was really into mathematics and physics, but now l enjoy informatics, the logic behind it, as well as solving problems.
How did you find out about the STEP Internship?
Elena: Actually this is funny. I accidentally saw a friend like a link to
STEP
applications on a social network and didn’t expect to get a response so quickly after applying!
Mariana: I saw an email from a Google Student Ambassador at Politehnica and applied, as I thought this internship suited me very well.
Why did you apply?
Elena: I already had lots of plans for the summer but I thought it would be interesting to do interviews and have the experience of doing some phone interviews at Google!
Mariana: I thought it would be nice to apply for an internship at Google. The perception is that for standard internships, you need to be in your 4th year or beyond but this internship is targeted at students in the earlier years of their studies. It sounded great so I thought, why not apply?
What did you do during your time at Google?
Elena: I worked on the Mobile team and did lots of coding! I worked on re-writing some code, refactoring as well as implementing a UI!
Mariana: I worked on Geo, mainly on front end work. I also learnt to interact with loads of people in different areas as the project used lots of different technologies.
What was your favourite part?
Elena: Absolutely everything ...well, after finishing reading tutorials! The first two weeks were overwhelming and tough, but after that I found my feet.
Mariana: I loved meeting new people and finding out about their projects. I also enjoyed working on a visual project and to see people excited about some aspects of my work during my final presentation was great!
What did you get out of STEP? What skills did you gain?
Elena: I enjoyed learning from hands on experience rather than only doing coursework. It was great to learn more about Google specific technologies and new concepts like version control. I also got a taste of managing a healthy work-life-balance.
Mariana: I learnt what writing good code is all about. I also learnt how to apply the things that I learnt and discussing different methods with others was also fun.
What are the next steps for you?
Elena: I’m going back to university and would like to do a summer internship every year from now.
Mariana: I’m going back to my 3rd year and looking forward to a graphics course and catching up with friends. I’m also actually looking forward to homework and coding assignments. Hopefully next year I’ll be back at Google!
Do you have any advice for anyone considering applying to the STEP Internship?
Elena: Yes: once you find out what team you will work with, read as much as you can beforehand.
Mariana: Just APPLY. Send your CV - don’t think too much about it and you will be fine :)
Posted by Farrah Djohan, Intern Programs
Upcoming Hangout on Air: Technical Internships at Google
November 6, 2012
Our interns explore new ideas, accelerate the launch of new product features, and are big contributors to Google. Technical interns are embedded in every major engineering team at Google where their impact is unconstrained by titles.
Now you can learn more about our Technical Intern Program in North America this
Friday, November 9th at 10 am PST/1 pm EST
on the
Google Students page on Google+
. Current interns and intern hosts will talk about their experience and give you a sneak peak at what our intern program is like.
Haz question? You can submit your questions and vote for previous ones here: http://goo.gl/En9Kd or post your question and the hashtag #GoogleInternHangout on Google+ or Twitter. Can’t catch it live? No worries, we will upload the recording to the Google Students YouTube Channel: http://goo.gl/xaAIo.
Learn more about our Technical Internship opportunities at
google.com/students/intern
.
Posted by Jacqueline Pan, University and Intern Program
s
Upcoming Hangout on Air: 2013 Google Scholarships for Europe, Middle East and Africa
November 1, 2012
Following our
2013 Google Scholarships in EMEA announcement
, we’re hosting a
Hangout on Air on Monday, November 5 at 16:30 GMT
(find your local time
here
) from the
Google Students page on Google+
to help prepare interested applicants. This Hangout on Air will feature a panel of former scholar recipients who are now Google engineers as well as two judges who sit on the application review committee. We’ll be giving general tips on what we look for when reviewing applications, answering questions about the application process and sharing experiences about the retreat.
You can submit your questions and vote for previous ones
here
or by using the hashtag #emeascholars on Google+ or Twitter. No worries if you can’t watch the Hangout live - we will upload the recording to the
Google Students YouTube Channel
.
To learn more about the EMEA 2013 scholarships programs please visit:
http://www.google.com/anitaborg/emea/
http://www.google.com/studentswithdisabilities-europe/index.html
Posted by Efrat Aghassy, University Programs Specialist, Europe, Middle East and Africa
My Summer @ Google: BOLD Immersion
October 25, 2012
Introduction: We continue the
My Summer @ Google
series with a post from Moses, a sophomore at Dartmouth College. Moses recently attended the
BOLD Immersion Program
for Freshmen.
Most people have heard of Google, but did you know that each summer Google selects rising college sophomores to immerse themselves in the Google way of life for a week? My path to the BOLD Immersion Program for Freshmen was far from conventional. I was told to apply by a senior mentor at school, who made me promise that I would research the company and send in an application. To do my research, I actually had to “Google” Google! Soon thereafter, I decided to apply, but with Google being so popular and me having little-to-no experience with computer science, I did not expect my interest to be reciprocated.
To my surprise, I was accepted into the program! Immediately I became nervous. What did I expect from a week at the center of the Internet world? How could I prepare for something like this? What would the other participants be like? I began to try and guess answers to my own questions. I decided I would have to wear a suit and tie, pretend to be well versed on all things computer science, be able to analyze Google stock trends, and memorize the biographies of Larry and Sergey.
Of course, all of my assumptions were false. BOLD Immersion was about exposing students to a talented and diverse community, learning about the technology industry from a non-technical point of view, and growing my skills. There was also a case study, and after being briefed each group set out to invent a marketing campaign. A few days later, we presented our work to a panel of judges.
What most impressed me at Google was the quality of the people. It took a short conversation with any one of my fellow participants to realize that he or she was talented and intelligent. And the Google employees were a more experienced version of our group – incredibly genuine, outlandishly charismatic, and encouragingly creative. Though I have always heard people say it’s important to love what you do, seldom have I seen this in action. The people I met at Google truly love their jobs; Google fosters a certain atmosphere that transforms a “job” into a “calling,” and your “coworkers” into “friends.”
I learned so much about who I am. I learned how to communicate effectively and navigate through a cloud of unknowns to answer a question or solve a problem. I learned how to accept and decline propositions, all the while maintaining respect and order. Most importantly, I learned how to be an effective member of any organization: be that my athletic team, the clubs that I am a part of at school, or the workforce of which I will soon be a full time member.
Google is a unique company because I see it not as a technology company, but as a people company that just happens to focus on technology. I left Google after a week with more knowledge than I could learn at many summer programs. The fellow Immersion participants became friends who I now contact whenever I am close to their schools or hometowns. Though there was a case study competition, I am more than content with the knowledge, the bonds, and the experience and I consider myself and every group winners.
I hope future college freshmen apply for this program. Participants will learn so much about Google and themselves, and will meet an amazing group of people. My one piece of advice: please be yourself because it's your uniqueness that can help transform you into a potential Googler!
Interested in BOLD Immersion? Applications will be available
here
in March 2013.
Posted by Moses Adubi, BOLD Immersion Participant
Apply now to Google’s diversity talent programs - don’t miss out!
October 24, 2012
We're pleased to announce that we’re accepting applications for CodeF, TechAbility and Top Black Talent, which are all part of Google’s diversity talent programs in the UK and Europe. These programs are designed to provide career insights and mentorship for undergraduate and postgraduate students from underrepresented groups throughout the region.
Each program consists of an exclusive one-day career insight event with technical and business challenges, networking opportunities and an eight week, one-to-one mentoring relationship with a Googler. We’ll help you develop skills and industry knowledge for both technical and business careers at Google and beyond.
CodeF
is for female computer scientists. Last chance to apply online for
UK CodeF
is October 28, 2012. We are accepting applications for
Germany/Switzerland CodeF
until November 11, 2012.
TechAbility
is for disabled students interested in technical or business careers at Google. This effort is in partnership with
EmployAbility
. We’re currently accepting
applications
from across Europe until October 28, 2012.
Top Black Talent
is a UK-based program for black students interested in technical or business careers at Google. This effort is in partnership with
ACS
and
Rare
. We’re accepting
applications
from now until November 14, 2012.
For more information about diversity at Google please visit
google.com/diversity
.
We look forward to receiving your application!
Posted by Clare Bass, Diversity & Inclusion, Europe, Middle East & Africa
Google helps bring Israeli-Arab students and industry professionals together in the first Nazareth Hackathon
October 22, 2012
Google’s R&D Center
in Israel recently co-sponsored Hackathon@Nazareth, a 48 hour long hackathon style event, partnering with
Tzofen
, a non-profit organization that aims to integrate the Israel-Arab community into the high-tech industry.
This Hackathon was the first of it's kind to be held in Northern Israel and the first one aimed to bring Israeli and Arab developers together. For the first time, we got to see the real talent behind the Israel-Arab tech community. Over 60 Arab Israeli computer science students, computer scientists and developers from schools such the
Technion
,
Haifa University
,
Hebrew University
and
Tel Aviv University
got together for 48 hours to turn ideas into reality. During the event, the students finally had the chance to turn their academic knowledge into innovative new software products, experience teamwork and create a new network with both Arab and Jewish experienced engineers.
Yossi Matias
, Managing Director of Google's R&D Center, opened the event with a warm welcome speech to more than 80 attendees. Later on, the students pitched their ideas to the crowd and picked 14 ideas to work on during the event.
The positive energy and the mentors helped keep the participants coding all night long, which allowed them to build web and mobile applications based on their own ideas. Just before saying goodbye, all the teams presented their
project demos
before a panel of distinguished judges from the Israeli
startup scene
who gave them constructive feedback on their demo. Some of the more promising ones were
theFridge
, which allows roommates to maintain their household easily and efficiently and
AroundRoid
, an application that combines task management with location-based services.
Costa Touma, a full-time software engineer at Google who participated as a mentor at the event summed up this experience with the talented students: “The event's highlight was the team spirit. Everyone who participated gained something while at the same time helped put Nazareth on the tech map for a brief weekend.”
This event triggered a greater interest in planning more coding events in the region. Our
Google developer communities
will be planning more events in Nazareth in the future. For more information related to developers activities in Israel, check out our
GDG ISRAEL G+ channel
.
Posted by Efrat Aghassy, University Specialist for Israel
My Summer @ Google: Encouraging diversity and inclusion in the workplace
October 19, 2012
Time flies! It seems like just yesterday I attended the Intern Orientation on the first day of my internship, but now I feel as if I have been on my team for years. As my last day is approaching, I am starting to feel a pang of sadness to leave my team, but I am confident and grateful that I have gained in-depth knowledge and experience in just nine weeks of my internship. I also feel lucky to have my mentor who has been very supportive and I worked very closely with another intern and her mentor. It has been a great learning experience to work together as a team.
As an intern, I joined the Talent and Outreach Programs team that designs and delivers initiatives to attract a talented and diverse workforce and raise awareness of the Google employment brand. My intern project was to do research on and design initiatives for students with disabilities. I started by identifying and building relationships with organizations that support students with disabilities. Through these relationships, I then mapped out the talent market by school and major. Based on this research, I was able to plan and execute our first-ever ‘Google Diversity Workshop’ inviting 20+ students with disabilities to the Tokyo office! The students came from all over Japan.
As one of the main organizers of the event, I moderated the panel discussion where we featured two of our disabled Googlers. I also facilitated the group discussions where the participants built on their discussion and presentation skills. It was exciting to see the students enjoy and tackle the project, however, the highlight for me was the dedication of the Googlers who volunteered. This event was a success thanks to the 13 Googlers who came from various functions including HR, Sales, and Engineering. They trusted me and gave me helpful advice throughout the event. I saw firsthand how supportive and encouraging Googlers are.
During the last week of my internship, I gave a tech talk about my intern project. It was a great way for me to share what I had worked on over the summer. I hope Google will continue to hold events for students with disabilities, not only in Japan, but in other countries to raise awareness of the diverse Google culture. Also we would provide opportunities like group work and mingling with other disabled students and Googlers.
My experience at Google has made a big impact on me and has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to become a Googler. Now I am sad to leave, but I am ready for the next stage in my career and make a big impact to the world!
Posted by Ryosuke Nakajima, Intern, Google Japan
Four tips towards a successful technical interview
October 18, 2012
Christian, center, with fellow Googlers at the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade
It seems like just yesterday that I was wandering around the Googleplex as a wide-eyed freshman during my first internship at Google. Fast-forward four years and I’ve just finished up my fourth Google internship and am now starting my fifth year of college as a masters student. Along the way I've acquired some skills that have helped me tremendously when it comes to interviewing.
It goes without saying that technical abilities are extremely important. However, there are many other skills that can help you land that dream job. Before interviewing, I spent hours practicing interview questions to not only help my technical skills, but also my conversational skills. Remember, you only have one or two interviews to showcase yourself. You need to be able to make a lasting impression (in a good way of course)! Practicing communication skills is something many technically-oriented people overlook.
With that, my first tip is to take a break from the algorithms and data structures and practice talking about yourself. What makes you passionate about this position? What value would you bring to the company? Record yourself and watch it! You’ll probably notice many filler words such as “ums” and “uhs” that you can eliminate with a little bit of practice. Being aware of the image you're projecting is extremely important. It’s extremely uncomfortable to do, but it will show you where improvements can be made to the image you cast.
During the interview, try remembering you’re talking to another human being who’s most likely very friendly! Many people view the interview as an adversarial conversation, but treat it as the opposite. Every Google interview I’ve had was relaxed because I didn’t feel ashamed speaking my mind; this included asking for help when I got stuck. That’s completely fine to do! They’re looking to see how you think, not just getting the “correct” answer every time.
Additionally, always be sure to show your passion. It’s so much more engaging to have a discussion with someone who loves what they’re working on, rather than someone who is indifferent about their job. Always keep trying new things to find that passion inside you, and be sure to project it in your conversations!
Finally, make sure to always have questions for the interviewer at the end. It shows that you have an interest in the position and you have done your research. This is the time for you and the interviewer to find common interests and passions, which helps gauge your cultural fit in the company.
Hope these help and happy interviewing!
Posted by Christian Johnson, current master’s student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute studying electrical engineering and former Google intern
My Summer @ Google: AdCamp
October 16, 2012
Introduction: We continue the
My Summer @ Google
series with a post from Nels, a junior at the University of Minnesota studying operations management, and information systems. Nels recently attended the first ever
AdCamp
, a four day program for rising juniors interested in advertising and sales.
During the school year I know I am going to have a good morning when I am able to get up and eat a bowl of Cheerios before class. Back in May, there was a Wednesday where I completely forgot my cereal, because I was too excited to even think. That morning I had gotten my acceptance email to be a part of Google’s AdCamp program. I may not have gotten my daily dose of oats, but that was the last thing on my mind.
A month prior to that Wednesday, a mentor of mine told me that I should apply for the AdCamp program. I had done a handful of work with Google products in the past, learned to love them, and wanted to get a chance to work with the company behind the magic. I was very quiet about applying, and didn’t mention it to anyone. I remember finally breaking the news to my parents the day I was accepted. I told them two things: “Mom, Dad, I am going to New York for a Google summer program, and I need to go fancy shirt shopping.”
AdCamp is a four-day program for rising juniors at Google’s New York office. Campers are able to learn from seasoned Googlers about the company’s products, and also about the company’s strategies for servicing their clients.
The camp was a healthy balance between work and play. The work happened during the day. Daily sessions were set up as fast paced discussions. We worked closely in teams, and had the opportunity to test our speaking skills in front of the large group. Between our sessions, we were able to explore the office and learn about the hidden perks of being at Google; it only took five minutes of wandering to realize how special Google is.
On the last day of AdCamp we had a case competition. The Googlers presented us with a live case that Google employees were working through. We used all of the tools that we learned at camp, and in under three hours, we created a presentation for a panel of judges. The competition was fierce but in the end our team put together a great presentation and had a lot of fun.
When we weren’t being students, we were tourists. Each night our program leaders would take us out to explore the city. We went on a double-decker bus tour through Times Square & Brooklyn, walked along The Highline park in the Meatpacking District, and went out for an authentic New York style Italian meal (which took a few weeks to fully digest!).
But my favorite part of the trip had to be the people that I met. All of the campers were from different places, and had different stories to tell. By the end of the trip we became a very tight-knit group. If I ever make my way out to either coast, I have a long list of new friends to visit.
The Googlers were also special. The little things were what stood out to me. Every employee was willing to help when I needed it, and they all walked around with a big smile. Our program leaders were amazing. I never felt like I had to impress them. They treated me like a friend instead of a prospect. I am not very emotional, but I gave out quite a few hugs at the end of the trip.
I left AdCamp with confidence that I could do anything. In four days I built up a wealth of knowledge that I am still tapping into today. AdCamp taught me the skills that I need to thrive in any fast paced environment. Lastly, I learned with a bit of teamwork and a bit of fun - anything can happen.
Interested in AdCamp? Applications will be available
here
in Spring 2013.
Posted by Nels Pederson, AdCamp Participant
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