Google Student Blog: December 2012

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 BlogBy Phoebe Peronto, Developer MarketingGDL Presents: Women TechmakersKivaCode for AmericaCodecademyLast week: series highlightsWomen Techmakers Give Back with Kiva.orgKiva.org
Women Techmakers Give Back with Code for AmericaCode for America
Women Techmakers Give Back with CodecademyCodecademy
Women Techmakers Give Back with ClearStreet, Java
This Week: We’re going globalThursday, 12/20Watch liveAdd to calendarThursday, 12/20Ginger SoftwareWatch liveAdd to calendarWatch anytime, anywherenew WTM homeWe’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 BlogBy Phoebe Peronto, Developer MarketingWomen TechmakersGoogle Developers LiveGoogle.orgYouTubeGoogle+

Tuesday, 12/11Kiva.orgWatch liveAdd to calendarKivaGoogle VenturesGoogle.orgWednesday, 12/12Code for AmericaWatch liveAdd to calendarCode for AmericaThursday, 12/13CodecademyWatch liveAdd to calendarCodecademyFriday, 12/14ClearStreet Inc.Watch liveAdd to calendarClearStreet Inc.first WTM seriesGoogle+ events to RSVPGDLask questionsConnect 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

LISA Conference

world’s most intense pit crewNot able to join us for the LISA Conference?Interested in SRE roles at Google?internshipnew grad

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.

Upcoming Hangout On Air: EMEA Summer Trainee Engineering Program

December 4, 2012

Summer Trainee Engineering Programhere

STEM is everywhere!

December 4, 2012

National GeographicCERNScientific AmericanCalifornia Academy of ScienceSETIGoogle Science FairGirlstartGoogle Science FairGirlstartwww.destember.org#deSTEMberGoogle Science FairGirlstartsurvey

GDL Presents: Keeping the Internet Free & Open

December 3, 2012

Cross-posted from the Google Developers BlogGoogle Developers LivePresents

Google+ eventsGDLask questionsraise your voice for a free and open webTuesdayM-LabTransparency ReportWatch liveAdd to calendarWednesdayGoogle for EntrepreneursEngine AdvocacyWatch liveAdd to calendarGoogle for EntrepreneursEngine AdvocacyThursdayAccess NowAssociation for Progressive CommunicationsCentro de Technologia e SociedadeFundacion KarismaDerechos DigitalesWatch liveAdd to calendarConnect 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

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