A University of Edinburgh academic and AI specialist will spend a term at one of the top universities in the world this autumn in order to explore ways to encourage more young people from disadvantaged groups to study computing.
Fiona McNeill has been awarded an All Disciplines Scholar Award from the Fulbright Commission and will head to California, the home of Silicon Valley, as part of an academic exchange.
The number of girls studying computing is falling and researchers have warned that the continued male dominance of the digital space could harm the UK’s aim to be a technology ‘superpower’.[1]
Fiona McNeill, a Reader in Computing Education, already runs a tutoring programme for pupils in disadvantaged communities and introduced one of the first robotics competitions for schools.
Her award at the University of California, San Diego is part of the longstanding US-UK Fulbright Commission exchange programme and she will be furthering her research at first hand on how UC San Diego has successfully broadened the appeal of tech subjects.
Co-funding this Fulbright award is the Rita Allen Foundation, a US philanthropic funder of transformative early-stage research ideas and civic engagement.
And this North American foundation has invited Fiona to join their pioneering Civic Science Network as a Civic Science Associate – addressing biases and fostering inclusivity in research environments.
Fiona McNeill said: “The fundamental problem is that computer scientists are not very diverse. The discipline tends to be dominated by white and Asian males from more affluent social backgrounds.
“Correcting that imbalance is really important because this technology is driving society. For example, when Apple[2] developed its ‘Health’ app, there was no tracking of periods. The fact that this could be important hadn’t crossed the minds of its male designers. Similar issues come up all the time everywhere.”
Fiona began her career working in AI but has always been interested in education and how to broaden the appeal of computing. She will use her time in San Diego to study the inclusive policies introduced there, why they work and whether they would be equally successful if replicated in Scotland.
Fiona added: “I’ve been doing collaborative work with UC San Diego for a couple of years now. They’ve changed their student support model and we’ve been working together to see how students are responding to that.
“They’ve had a lot of success, however the environments are very different. I wanted to spend time there to experience it for myself and see what we might be able to copy.
“For this project I’ll be looking at what we can do to improve retention and outcomes for those who go to university. For example, as well as being less likely to take computing in schools, girls are more likely to drop out once they get to university and more likely to end up in a job in a different sector.
“We need to create an environment where girls and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds feel ‘this is the place for me’.”
The US-UK Fulbright Commission was established in the aftermath of the Second World War to foster better understanding between the US and the UK, and promote the empathy gained from cultural immersion.
Active in 150 countries, the Fulbright programme is the largest international education exchange in the world: more than 370,000 people have participated in it globally since it began, and over 25,000 have received US-UK Fulbright awards.
Sixty-two Fulbright alumni have won Nobel Prizes; 88 have won Pulitzer Prizes and 40 have served as head of state or government.
Maria Balinska, Executive Director of the US-UK Fulbright Commission, said: “Our vision is a world where there are no obstacles to learning, understanding and collaboration.
“Today there are many global challenges to overcome, and the world needs compassionate leaders to tackle them.
“This year’s cohort of awardees will be placing cultural engagement at the heart of their experiences as they undertake ambitious study and research programmes in the US: I am filled with hope for the wonderful collaborations that will ensue.”
Elizabeth Christopherson, President and CEO of the Rita Allen Foundation, said: “The Rita Allen Foundation is pleased to partner with the US–UK Fulbright Commission to support trailblazers co-creating a future where all people can shape science to expand its benefits and horizons.
“We are eager to welcome Fiona to the dynamic community of Civic Science Associates and Fellows working to create new bridges for learning across sectors and communities, using the tools of science and evidence to open access for new generations.”
Fiona McNeill will join a cohort of 31 Fulbrighters heading to the USA from the UK for 2024-25 and is one of a long line of over 600 Fulbright awardees that have headed to California since 1949.