Computing Researchers Take to the Hill as Congress Debates Science Budgets

By Peter Harsha Full Article

While congressional appropriators struggled to finish their work on the FY2012 budget—and a congressional supercommittee debated short- and long-term changes to the budget to combat the massive government debt—members of the computing research community continued their efforts in a variety of ways in September to make the case for the federal investment in early-stage computing research.

Trip Report from Spain

By Tasneem Kaochar, University of Arizona Full Article

In July I had the opportunity to travel to Spain to attend and present at two research venues. The first event was the 19th International Conference on User Modeling, Adaptation, and Personalization (UMAP), which took place in Girona, a charming and beautiful old city in Costa Brava, Catalonia.

First Person: “Life as a NSF Program Director”

By Douglas H. Fisher Full Article

In November 2006, I received a call from a colleague suggesting I apply for a Program Director opening at the National Science Foundation. Prior to his call, I had determined to re-orient my research in machine learning towards environmental applications. It didn’t take long to decide that NSF would be much more a retooling for, rather than a distraction from, this new direction.

Increasing Women and Underrepresented Minorities in Computing Research Careers:

The CRA-W/CDC Alliance

By Manuel Pérez-Quiñones, Betsy Bizot, Kathleen Fisher Full Article

CRA-W and CDC have been working since the mid 1990s to encourage women and underrepresented minorities, respectively, toward graduate school and research careers in the computing field. In 2005, the two organizations collaborated on a proposal to the National Science Foundation’s Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) program and in 2006 they were awarded funding. The result was the Widening the Research Pipeline Alliance, one of 16 Alliances currently funded by the BPC program. Our alliance manages programs that encourage individuals to begin and remain on the path to a research career.

A Shifting Perspective on Computing’s Future?

By Eric Grimson, CRA Board Chair Full Article

As all of us are acutely aware, recent turmoil in the financial markets, near gridlock on Capitol Hill, uncertainty about long-term fiscal planning in Congress, and concerns about hesitancy in the job market are all converging to create a somewhat daunting perspective for computing research, and especially for funding for computing research, in the next few years.

Computer Science Education Week Wants You!

By CRA Full Article

Join with the more than 1,800 people who have pledged to participate in the third annual Computer Science Education Week, December 4 -10, 2011.

Career Mentoring for Faculty from Primarily Undergraduate Academic Institutions

By Sheila Castañeda and Susan Rodger Full Article

Women in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) face particular challenges in pursuing and maintaining academic careers at primarily undergraduate academic institutions. Women academicians in CSE typically have few female colleagues to provide critical information about the culture and content required for successful academic careers.