Empowering the Next Generation of Computing Researchers

2024-12-06

exploreCSR is a groundbreaking initiative designed to foster inclusive environments within university departments, empowering students from historically marginalized groups (HMGs) to pursue careers in computing research.

Since its inception in 2018, exploreCSR has supported over 237 initiatives at 140 universities across 23 countries, reaching more than 19,700 students. Inspired by Carnegie Mellon University’s OurCS program, exploreCSR provides faculty with the tools and resources to create inclusive spaces where HMG students can thrive.

Key Impact of exploreCSR:

Enhanced Student Confidence and Belonging: By offering workshops, mentorship programs, and research experiences, exploreCSR has significantly improved students’ confidence, sense of belonging, and intersectional capital within the field of computing research.
Increased Persistence in Research: Immersive research experiences have proven to be effective in building community, equity, and inclusion, particularly for undergraduate women. This, in turn, has led to increased persistence in computing research careers.
Positive Research Culture: exploreCSR has fostered a positive research culture, inspiring students to discover their passion for research and encouraging faculty to sustain their efforts beyond the program’s funding.

A Commitment to Lasting Change:

To create a lasting impact, exploreCSR is shifting its focus from supporting individual faculty-led initiatives to enabling sustained department-level efforts. With a recent $2 million funding commitment, the program aims to:

Catalyze Systemic Change: By providing increased funding and support, exploreCSR seeks to catalyze long-term, systemic change within university departments.
Build a Legacy of Inclusion: The goal is to create a lasting legacy of inclusion and support for HMG students in computing research.
Inspire Future Investment: exploreCSR hopes to encourage other philanthropic, public, and private funders to invest in long-term, meaningful outcomes that promote diversity and inclusion in computing research.

What Undercode Says:

exploreCSR represents a significant step forward in addressing the lack of diversity and inclusion in computing research. By empowering HMG students and fostering inclusive environments, the program has the potential to reshape the future of the field.

However,

To further enhance the impact of exploreCSR, the following areas could be considered:

Long-Term Sustainability: Developing sustainable funding models to ensure the program’s longevity is crucial.
Mentorship and Sponsorship: Expanding mentorship and sponsorship programs to provide ongoing support for HMG students.
Data-Driven Evaluation: Implementing rigorous evaluation methods to measure the program’s long-term impact and identify areas for improvement.
Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Fostering collaboration among universities and researchers to share best practices and lessons learned.
Addressing Intersectionality: Recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by students from multiple marginalized groups.

By addressing these areas, exploreCSR can continue to make a positive impact on the lives of HMG students and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive future for computing research.