Session: Why should women pursue Machine Learning as a career
I come from a region where being a doctor and an engineer is mostly cherished, and if not, a woman should focus on household chores. It was quite uncommon for a woman like me to go for Computer Science, and then continue to be doing research with Machine Learning under Artificial Intelligence for a greener environment. From my perspective, not many women are in the Machine Learning field despite the advancement of diverse, and inclusive workplaces. I can understand that when some women would want to go for this field, they might get negative feedback or even find the field to be intimidating from the opinion of others. However, as a researcher who is in her final year of Ph.D., I can say that Artificial Intelligence, and especially Machine Learning can be very fascinating, mainly if this is what you are interested in. There are many useful applications of Machine Learning, and it is deeply integrated into our daily lives. As companies work for a better, more diverse, and inclusive workplace, more opportunities can come your way if you are into this field as this field still lacks women. Moreover, the opinion and perspectives of women are necessary for researching and applying Machine Learning in various tools. Starting from healthcare, eco-friendly environment, and more inclusive research even in voice recognition are just a few examples. If you are interested or thinking about pursuing Machine Learning as a woman, do not hesitate, simply go for it. This field is continuously evolving, and as women are more caring and conscious, our opinions deeply matter to strike a balance between technological advancement and humanity. Women and especially women of color are very underrepresented in this field of technology, and it is time for us to change that. In my talk, I am going to discuss why Machine Learning can be a good career choice for women, and also the advantages and disadvantages of having this as a career. You will get to know from my talk if Machine Learning is for you. Besides, I will also voice the issues of underrepresentation I faced, the methods we can take to have more inclusivity in this field, and why this field requires women's perspective.
Bio
A brown woman who ventured into technology found how the field of Artificial Intelligence can be useful for better, clean, and green living. Currently, she is doing PH.D. utilizing Machine Learning for the UN's Sustainable Goals of focusing on renewable energy besides being a mother of two daughters. She also will share her insights on how this is a suitable career choice for women and why having women in this field is important.