Since 2018, exploreCSRa Google initiative, has revolutionized how universities support students from historically marginalized groups (HMG) in the field of computer research. This program, inspired by Ourcs from the Carnegie Mellon University, has financed more than 237 initiatives in 140 universities from 23 countries, positively impacting more than 19,700 students. This year, Google's commitment is reinforced with an investment of 2 million dollars, aimed at supporting 22 institutions and bringing these efforts to a new level: the systemic and lasting transformation within the university departments.
What is Explorecsr?
Explorecsr is a direct response to the need to create inclusive environments in computing research. Their approach not only seeks to motivate students from marginalized groups to enter this field, but also to provide them with the skills, trust and community necessary to persist on the way. This includes workshops, mentoring programs and research experiences designed to reinforce the sense of belonging and the intersectional capital of the students.
From wwwhatsnew.com we consider that this type of programs not only opens doors to talents that could otherwise be out of the radar, but also enriches the panorama of technological research with diverse and necessary perspectives.
Tangible and human impact
The data support the success of Explorecsr: the immersive experiences in research have shown to significantly improve students' confidence and promote a positive culture in undergraduate research, among other groups. But beyond statistics, there are human stories. Many students have discovered their passion for research thanks to these initiatives, while teachers have found ways to maintain active programs even after the initial financing is over.
An outstanding example is how these efforts have helped build inclusive communities within universities. By generating a sense of belonging, students not only feel more motivated to continue in the academic field, but also become ambassadors of change in their own communities.
A change of focus: individual initiatives to departmental transformations
The recently announced investment marks an important change in the Explorecsr strategy. Although in the beginning he focused on supporting initiatives led by individual teachers, now his goal is to generate changes at the departmental level. This implies a broader approach, aimed at institutional universities and ensure their long -term sustainability.
As Google points out, funds are not only allocated to specific events, but to the creation of infrastructure and practice communities that allow departments to continue innovating in inclusion and equity. From wwwhatsnew.com, we believe that this approach is key to ensure that the advances achieved do not fade over time, but become an integral part of university culture.
Invitation to other actors
Google also calls other financiers, both public and private, to join this cause. Diversity in technological research is not only a matter of social justice, but also a need to solve complex problems in an increasingly interconnected world.
As we have mentioned several times on wwwhatsnew, technology has the power to transform lives, but for that to happen, it must be built by teams that reflect the diversity of the real world. Initiatives such as Explorecsr are an important step towards that goal, but the impact will be greater if other organizations also add efforts.