Co-founded by Dr. Anita Borg and Dr. Telle Whitney in 1994 and inspired by the legacy of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, the Institute’s Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) Of Women In Computing Conference is designed to bring the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront. It is the largest technical conference for women in computing and results in collaborative proposals, networking and mentoring for junior women and increased visibility for the contributions of women in computing. Conference presenters are leaders in their respective fields, representing industry, academia and government. Top researchers present their work while special sessions focus on the role of women in today’s technology fields.
Past Conferences
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2004 ConferenceOctober 6-9, 2004 900 participants attended the 5th Grace Hopper Celebration. A full decade since the first Grace Hopper Celebration the Making History theme was not a simple look back into history but emphasized the importance of cooperation and collaboration with women of different generations. It highlighted the impact and history that women have made, are making, and will continue to make on technology and innovation. Twenty-four universities from all over the country sent over 400 students to Chicago. |
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2002 ConferenceOctober 9-12, 2002 600 women attended the fourth Grace Hopper Celebration and they came from all over the world including the United Kingdom, Canada, Pakistan, Australia, India, Germany, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, Haiti, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Norway, Kenya, Bangladesh, Japan, Mexico, and Turkey. The theme for 2002, “Ubiquity,” focused on the ubiquity of the impact of computers on our daily lives and the ubiquity of the impact women are making on this technical force. |
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2000 ConferenceSeptember 14-16, 2000 The theme of the Third Grace Hopper Celebration was Interconnection; connections between computing and other fields, the connections among women in computing around the world, and the connection between technology and the needs of the world of women. Keynote speakers included Dr. Rita Colwell, Director, National Science Foundation and Ellen Hancock, CEO, Exodus Communications. |
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1997 ConferenceSeptmber 19-21, 1997 In its second iteration the Grace Hopper Celebration had already become known as a world-class technical conference presenting the significant contributions of women to the computing field. In addition the conference encouraged women by making visible the possibilities, success stories, and rewards available to women in computing. In San Jose, more than 600 women computer scientists and students exchanged ideas and updated their knowledge, fostered collaboration between individuals working in various fields of computing. |
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1994 ConferenceJune 9-11, 1994 “Welcome to the first Grace Hopper Celebration. Welcome to the future.” With those words co-founder Dr. Anita Borg opened the inaugural event inspired by the legacy of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, a pioneer in the field of computing and an inspiration to women and scientists everywhere. The Grace Hopper Celebration celebrated the continuing achievements and contributions of women in computing and over 450 women attended. The outpouring of enthusiasm from participants, organizations, associations and companies qualified the need for this event and foretold of great things to come. |
