Crossroads - Summer 2014

University of Sydney NCSS Challenge

The University of Sydney will host an online summer programming competition for secondary school students. This competition is designed for students of all skill levels, from complete newcomers to advanced programmers. Participants are given detailed instructions and challenging problems to solve, while they are able to collaborate with peers and tutors. The online competition begins on August 4th and registration information can be found at https:// groklearning.com/challenge/.

Grace Hopper Celebration
of Women in Computing

The world’s largest technical conference for women in computing will take place from October 8th to October 11th. Held in Phoenix, Arizona, the Hopper Celebration is produced by the Anita Borg Institute in partnership with ACM. The conference aims to foster communication and mentorship as well as promote professional development and collaboration. To learn more, see http:// gracehopper.org/.

GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Korean-American Scholarship
Website: http://www.kasf.org/

Deadline: May to August. Varies by region.

Eligibility: Students of Korean background or heritage who are studying in the United States with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Details vary by region.

Benefits: Varies by region and level of study.

Explanation: The Korean-American Scholarship Foundation funds scholarships to provide financial assistance, teach students the importance of community service, support students discovering their Korean heritage, and help students build their social net works.

NSF Science, Technology, and Society Grant Website: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/ nsf12509/nsf12509.pdf

Deadline: August 1, 2014

Benefits: $6.2 million total project budget, with individual grants up to $500,000 for two to three years. Explanation: This grant funds projects that research the interface between science, technology, and society, exploring topics in ethics, policy, and societal practices and values.

NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Website: http://nsf.gov/pubs/2012/ nsf12529/nsf12529.pdf

Deadline: August 12, 2014

Benefits: $225,000 annual budget, not expected to exceed $600,000 total, for up to five years.

Explanation: This grant funds institutions to support scholarships for talented students in financial need, advancing them further into STEM career fields or STEM graduate programs. Individual students should contact their school’s Financial Aid Office for this opportunity.

GEM Fellowship Website: http://www.gemfellowship.org/

Deadline: November 15, 2014; October

1, 2014 for early consideration,

Eligibility: American Indian, African-American, or Latino U. S. citizens.

Must be a permanent U.S. resident and accepted into a graduate program at a GEM member university.

Benefits: Tuition and fees at a GEM member university, as well as a

$16,000 stipend.

Explanation: The GEM fellowship is aimed at creating technical leaders within underrepresented groups in engineering and science. There are fellowships for both master’s students in engineering and Ph.D. students in engineering and science.

Collaboration Across Boundaries:
Culture, Distance and Technology

Chion-in Wajun Kaikan Kyoto, Japan August 20-22, 2014

With an economy as large and as global as the one today, it is now more important than ever for people of various ethnicities and cultures to be able to work with each other efficiently and effectively. While certain barriers may exist that make this challenging, it is important to overcome those obstacles and find ways to succeed. These same principles apply to the world of computing, such an essential part of the world. While many across the world are making strides in the field of computing, it is more important that we all find ways to work together to make further discoveries.

In August, Kyoto will host the 2014 Collaboration across Boundaries: Culture, Distance, and Technology Conference. This conference will explore methods of expediting and promoting intercultural collaboration. Topics of the conference will include communication and management, computer-coordinated collaboration, and cross-linguistic communication. The conference will include various panels and workshops as well as three keynote speakers. Learn more at http:// cabs.acm.org/2014/.