Coder Girl Hack Day introduces young girls to technology

18 Oct 2016

Chloe Connell (8) from Galway at Coder Girl Hack Day. Image: Conor McCabe Photography

In order to reverse the gender imbalance in the tech industry, Coder Girl Hack Day introduced young girls to hands-on tech workshops.

In a celebration of women, Coder Girl Hack Day took place on Saturday, 15 October.

The event introduced girls and their families to the possibilities of technology and engineering careers through free learning sessions in coding, hacking, and building websites and other computer software.

Speaking at the event, co-founder Niambh Scullion said it’s about “showcasing some amazing technologies and some great things that girls can do with tech…but it’s also about amazing female mentors”.

Coder Girl Hack Day aims to encourage gender balance in the tech industry, by showing young women the creative and dynamic career opportunities that are available to them.

Throughout the day, young girls participated in hands-on workshops, which showcased wearable technology, coding websites and Python software.

Ann O’Dea, Inspirefest founder and Silicon Republic CEO, opened the day with a speech celebrating some of the most revered women in technology and highlighting the gender imbalance in some of the biggest technological companies in the world.

“We do not have enough women in the technology and leadership roles in these companies. It’s something that we’re really trying to change,” she said.

During her talk, O’Dea also introduced the girls to famous women in technology, including Grace Hopper and Hedy Lamarr. She said the things girls would learn at Coder Girl Hack Day would allow them to reverse the gender imbalance.

Jenny Darmody is the editor of Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com