Increasing developer productivity and innovation through diversity and the normalization of inclusion
According to a DOE Advanced Scientific Advisory Committee Workforce Subcommittee Letter in 2014, DOE labs are facing workforce challenges and need to develop more effective techniques to attract and sustain a full spectrum of talent. The letter also calls for new approaches to recruiting and retaining computing sciences staff, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds such as women and minorities. To address the challenge to develop, retain, and diversify the workforce, Mary Ann is developing guidelines, including best practices and exemplar programs and activities, that the scientific software development community can adopt, adapt, and put into practice. This will be accomplished by (1) facilitating community discussion to scope the needs and collect best practices and (2) disseminating the guidelines in both written and presentation formats. These activities will increase awareness and knowledge of key issues and approaches to diversity and inclusion.
Dr. Leung is a nationally acclaimed leader in the design and implementation of innovative programs aimed at developing the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) leaders. To advance her passion for increasing diversity and promoting inclusion in the workforce, Dr. Leung founded the Sustainable Horizons Institute, utilizing her combined experience in scientific computing and education to lead programs and catalyze change. Previously, Dr. Leung served as the program manager for the Department of Energy (DOE) Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF) program. During her tenure, the program achieved an unprecedented level of recruitment and fellow and alumni engagement, represented by a strategic, multifaceted integration of online, regional, professional society, and annual conference activities. As a result of her efforts, in five years DOE CSGF doubled the number and overall quality of applicants, including a doubling and in some cases quadrupling the number of underrepresented minority applications.
Selected resources
DOE RFI response on Software Stewardship: “A multipronged approach to building a diverse workforce and cultivating an inclusive professional environment for DOE high-performance computing” ASCAC presentation on “ECP Broader Engagement Initiative” HPC-Best Practices Webinar: Normalizing Inclusion by Embracing Difference Panel Discussion on Diversity and Inclusion for Careers in CSE: Challenges and Best Practices Current and Future Trends Impacting Inclusivity in High-Performance Scientific Computing Increasing Developer Productivity and Innovation through Diversity and the Normalization of Inclusion
