In the January 2008 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education it is reported that The National Science Foundation is about to announce an alliance between seven research universities and 8 historically black colleges to encourage African Americans to pursue robotics research. Out of about two million computer and information scientists in the United States, only 4.8 percent are African American.
Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Salt Conference
A couple of days ago one of my colleagues from Pepperdine texted me while he was attending the annual SALT conference in DC where he was presenting. SALT is The Society for Applied Learning and Technology. The focus of his message was his surprise at how few people of color were presenting at the conference. There was also a dearth of people of color in attendance.
My friend’s text message is just another example of a phenomenon that I have been observing for years and wondering why this was the case. Why are people of color in general and Black people in particular missing when it comes to participating in society via technology. Why are there so few people of color in attendance at this event? Are they not aware of the organization? Are they aware of the organization but feel that there is no benefit to attending or presenting information at such a conference?
The problem with this particular example is that the SALT conference is a place where new research, ideas, and applications of technology are discussed. These kinds of conferences are where people go to learn how to learn, work and live more efficiently or for that matter better lives via the use of technology. If we are not attending events such as these how is it that Black folks are to find out about technologies that are sweeping the globe such as virtual worlds (Second Life), Blogs, Skype, etc.
My response to my friend was to resolve to continue to attend and present at the conference. Next year invite another scholar of color to attend. I have had the same experience at many of the conferences where I presented in the past year. My response will be the same. I will continue to present and attend conferences of The American Society of Training and Development and make sure other technologists, speakers, and trainers of color are also aware of these events. This is the way we change the culture.
I can remember many years ago when I was experimenting with a vegan lifestyle. Most places my wife and I attempted to have dinner did not offer anything that would meet our dietetic restrictions. However, as time passed and more vegans began to request something on the menu for their diet or choosing to eat elsewhere, restaurant owners began to respect the diet and add more vegan and vegetarian fare. In a similar fashion, as the populace became aware of some of the practices of grocery stores and began to shop at organic markets such as Whole Foods, now chains such as Randall’s and Tom Thumb are offering organic choices.
My friend’s text message is just another example of a phenomenon that I have been observing for years and wondering why this was the case. Why are people of color in general and Black people in particular missing when it comes to participating in society via technology. Why are there so few people of color in attendance at this event? Are they not aware of the organization? Are they aware of the organization but feel that there is no benefit to attending or presenting information at such a conference?
The problem with this particular example is that the SALT conference is a place where new research, ideas, and applications of technology are discussed. These kinds of conferences are where people go to learn how to learn, work and live more efficiently or for that matter better lives via the use of technology. If we are not attending events such as these how is it that Black folks are to find out about technologies that are sweeping the globe such as virtual worlds (Second Life), Blogs, Skype, etc.
My response to my friend was to resolve to continue to attend and present at the conference. Next year invite another scholar of color to attend. I have had the same experience at many of the conferences where I presented in the past year. My response will be the same. I will continue to present and attend conferences of The American Society of Training and Development and make sure other technologists, speakers, and trainers of color are also aware of these events. This is the way we change the culture.
I can remember many years ago when I was experimenting with a vegan lifestyle. Most places my wife and I attempted to have dinner did not offer anything that would meet our dietetic restrictions. However, as time passed and more vegans began to request something on the menu for their diet or choosing to eat elsewhere, restaurant owners began to respect the diet and add more vegan and vegetarian fare. In a similar fashion, as the populace became aware of some of the practices of grocery stores and began to shop at organic markets such as Whole Foods, now chains such as Randall’s and Tom Thumb are offering organic choices.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Why go to the library?
A friend of mine emailed me today regarding his experience in an urban library. He was surprised to see the number of Black people who were standing in line to use a computer. He thought to himself, do these folks not have a computer in the home? And if the answer to that question is no, then the next question is surely why not? As he mentioned in a subsequent email on the subject one can buy a pretty decent PC these days for under $500.00.
Is this not affordable? What is the issue?
Is this not affordable? What is the issue?
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