Grants:IdeaLab/Bringing Ada Lovelace Day Wikipedia Editathons to Indian university campuses

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Bringing Ada Lovelace Day Wikipedia Editathons to Indian university campuses

Ada Lovelace Day Editathons aim to address under-representation of Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) in Wikipedia, but are new to Canada where I and colleagues now hold them, and also India. While on sabbatical here, I was invited to talk with members of Women Studies Departments about my advocacy for Canadian women in STEM and I am presenting the idea of holding Ada Lovelace Day Wikipedia editathons.

countrycurrently on sabbatical in India, hanging out at Visva Bharati University until March 2018.

contact email• dbazely@gmail.com

idea creator• Carries mum

this project needs...

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created on07:35, 21 January 2018 (UTC)

Audience

Who are the people you want to introduce Wikipedia to?

Try to be as specific as possible about this group.
STEM students at universities in India, starting with Visva Bharati.

In what languages do they search for information, online or otherwise?

Bengali and English.

In what ways does this group communicate with each other?

This can include services and apps in social media, mailing lists, physical spaces like conferences or lectures, or at specific institutions like at a library.
WhatsApp

What are some reasons this group would use Wikipedia? How would they benefit from it, or what would they find useful?

Think about what they would be interested in reading and learning about; does Wikipedia provide better access to information this group cares about?
Learning to create and edit Wikipedia pages about Women in STEM from India has many, diverse pedagogical benefits for Indian students -- writing and research skills for one thing. It's still hard to find information about Women in STEM, including Indian women in STEM.

Project idea

What language Wikipedia projects will you promote to new readers?

Bengali and English

How will you communicate with new readers? Will you be communicating with them online, in-person, or both?

I will run a workshop, and connect with students via email and in person, as I am giving some guest lectures here.

Describe your idea to engage new readers. How might it be implemented? What will you tell people about Wikipedia?

Think about the steps that might involved to make this idea happen, and what you might teach people about your experience or others' experiences using Wikipedia.
In Fall 2013, I learned about International Ada Lovelace Day Wikipedia Editathons for increasing the number of entries for Women in STEM. I wanted to hold an Editathon at York University that same Fall, but I was nervous, because I personally had no wikipedia editing experience. Instead, I developed a Wikipedia assignment for my upper-year undergraduate Ecology course. Students researched male and female ecologists, or women scientists and wrote text for their Wikipedia pages. Some students even added to existing pages or made new pages that are still up! I have organized 3 Wikipedia editathons since then and created 2 brand new pages and contributed major edits to a 3rd, for 3 outstanding Women in STEM. If I can learn to do this, anyone can!

How will you know if this project is successful? What are some outcomes that you can share after the project is completed?

If you’re not certain about how to respond to this question when starting your idea, you do not need to answer it right now. Campaign participants and Wikimedia Foundation staff can help you consider some options.
We well see increased numbers of Wikipedia pages in English and Bengali about notable Women in STEM from India!

Do you think you can implement this idea? What support do you need?

Do you need people with specific skills or resources to complete this idea? Are there any financial needs for this project? Do you need advising from Wikimedia Foundation staff?
I would propose to hold a Wikipedia Women in STEM Editathon here with the help of students from computer science. I have built up a network of colleagues at York University, Toronto, who participate in the Ada Lovelace Day Editathons. The main thing I learned about organizing Editathons, is that you just have to do it!

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About the idea creator

I'm a science professor who sent my first email in 1989! I have included social media, wikipedia editathons and other practical skills for science communication in my Biology courses since 2014. As part of this, I learned how to use Twitter, Instagram and also, how to create and edit Wikipedia pages. Together with the Science and Engineering Librarian, and the Engineering Assistant Dean of Inclusivity and Diversity, I founded York University, Toronto's annual Ada Lovelace Day celebration, including the day-long Wikipedia editathon.

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