Examining Data Science Through an Equity Lens

The Computer Science and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies departments collaborated on a new cross-listed course.

Issues of race and gender have shaped computing since its beginning, now with increasing debate over algorithmic bias, surveillance, data privacy and more. As technology evolves to play a larger role in everyday life, it’s even more important that people understand how technology can reinforce systems of power.

This spring semester in a new course cross-listed in the University of Maryland’s Computer Science and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) departments, students examined the relationships between digital technology, power structures and social justice. The idea for the course, listed as CMSC115/WGSS115: Gender, Race and Computing, started with Elias Gonzalez (B.S. '17, computer science; M.Ed. ’18, curriculum and instruction), a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Break Through Tech curriculum innovation lead.

For more information, read the full article at https://cmns.umd.edu/news-events/news/new-course-gender-race-computing