News Briefs - General:

Tech Museum Of Innovation, Orgs Offer Women In Tech Series

The Tech Museum of Innovation, Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, Alliance of Technology and Women (ATW) Silicon Valley chapter (formerly Professional Area Network for Women in Technology, PANW) and the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) announced a new three-part series, Conversations With Innovative Women in Technology, designed to examine women's roles in technological innovation. The first program, "Families Learning Together - Encouraging Girls to Explore 'All Things Technical,'" will explore paths women take to pursue careers in the tech industry, and the need for society to offer stimulating opportunities in technical fields to young girls and women. The program will be held at the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose on the evening of July 12.

"The Tech is very excited to engage women and girls in these important topics," said The Tech's Chief Operating Officer Meredith Taylor. "The partnership among The Tech and these well respected organizations will yield great synergies by providing networking opportunities for professionals, celebrating contributions women make on technological innovation, and encouraging women to act as role models for young girls interested in math and science."

Among the diverse panel of accomplished women are:

Kathleen Bennett, founder, Girls Middle School;

Beth Devin, executive vice president of IT, Charles Schwab;

Anita Rao, vice president of product development, Blue Roads; and

Amy Wu, computer science student, Stanford University.

Chris Shipley, the executive producer of the DEMO Conferences for IDG Executive Forums, will serve as moderator. The panel will take a conversational approach as the panelists discuss how they developed an interest in technology, how it has influenced their lives, how it affects our world, and how we can encourage women and girls to explore technical, science and math-related topics.

"Women make significant contributions to business and science today, but many barriers still exist, especially a lack of mentors and role models," said Kathryn Ullrich, president of ATW Silicon Valley Chapter. "To remove these barriers, we must mentor our daughters and encourage them to be leaders in these industries. Along with our outstanding partner organizations, we have developed excellent programming for Bay Area women while establishing a community of women technology leaders and experts to mentor younger women nationwide."

"Current research indicates that women, who make up 46 percent of the U.S. workforce, hold only 12 percent of science and engineering jobs in business and industry -- a figure we believe needs to change," said Telle Whitney, President of the Anita Borg Institute. "For the United States to be successful in the 21st century, it is critical that women participate in the design of the technology of the future, and what better way of initiating change than by providing educational programming designed to encourage young girls and women to get involved in math and sciences. As a partnership of successful women's organizations, we are happy to be providing such an opportunity in the heart of Silicon Valley."

"Families Learning Together" is scheduled for Monday, July 12, 2004 at The Tech Museum of Innovation, 201 S. Market St. in San Jose. Registration begins at 6:00 p.m., with the panel discussion from 6:45-8:45 p.m. Advanced registration is $25 for members and $40 for non-members. Registration at the door is an additional $10. To register, please visit http://www.FWE.org. Children over 12 are welcome to register at the door for $5 with a paid adult registration. For more information about this event and the panel please go to: http://www.anitaborg.org/events/conversations_series.htm.

About the Alliance of Technology and Women Silicon Valley Chapter

The Alliance of Technology and Women (ATW) Silicon Valley chapter, formerly the Professional Area Network for Women in Technology (PANW), supports women and men worldwide who share the common interests of empowering women in technology, increasing the number of women in executive roles and encouraging women and girls to enter technology fields. ATW Silicon Valley is comprised of leading executives and professionals serving the high tech industries throughout the Bay Area, across disciplines including IT, Marketing, Sales, Engineering and Consulting. We offer on-going events and programs focusing on leadership, new trends in technology and skill development.

About the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology

The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology is a nationally recognized organization that provides platforms allowing women's voices, ideas and spirits to influence technology. The participants in Anita Borg Institute's programs are an unusual mix of academics and industry, and include many of the technology thought leaders of today. Its impact is significant on the lives and careers of women who both work in the technology field and are affected by technology. Our mission is to increase the impact of women on all aspects of technology, to increase the positive impact of technology on the lives of the world's women, and to help communities, industry, education and government benefit from these increases.

About the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs

Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) is the premier networking organization for women building and leading high-growth companies primarily in technology and life sciences. FWE's mission is to accelerate women's opportunities to start, manage and invest in market-leading companies by providing its members with powerful access to powerful networks. FWE's members have started 200+ companies and created over 3000 jobs in the past three years. FWE is headquartered in the Bay Area and has affiliates in Seattle, San Diego, Orange County/Los Angeles, France and Canada.

About The Tech Museum of Innovation

Located in the heart of downtown San Jose, Silicon Valley, Calif., The Tech Museum of Innovation (The Tech), a non-profit organization, engages people of all ages and backgrounds in exploring and experiencing the technologies affecting their lives and aims to inspire the young to become innovators in the technologies of the future. Guests can experience a wealth of interactive, hands-on, exhibits and unique floor programs that inspire innovation in technologies that impact their local and global communities.