![]() | This is an archive of past discussions. Do not edit the contents of this page. If you wish to start a new discussion or revive an old one, please do so on the current main page. |
Women in Science Oxford Editathon: Ada Lovelace Day 2013 | |
---|---|
![]() About the EventThe University of Oxford’s IT Services and Bodleian Libraries organised an editathon focused on women in science to celebrate Ada Lovelace Day on 15 October 2013. The editathon took place at IT Services on Banbury Road, Oxford, and included some basic training by Martin Poulter, the Jisc Wikimedian Ambassador supported by Jisc and Wikimedia UK. Ada Lovelace is widely held to have been the first computer programmer, and Ada Lovelace Day aims to raise the profile of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by encouraging people around the world to talk about the women whose work they admire. This international day of celebration helps people learn about the achievements of women in STEM, inspiring others and creating new role models for young and old alike. This Wikipedia editathon celebrated the spirit of Ada Lovelace Day by helping people learn about the contribution of individual women to the world of science, with the aim to add to and improve the coverage of individuals, events and resources related to women in science. Our idea for the event was: 'Come along to learn about how Wikipedia works and contribute a greater understanding of the role of women in science!'
On the dayWe were based in a computer lab, wifi also available. Approximate Timetable
ParticipantsAll apart from one were female. Most participants (around 18 or so) had not edited Wikipedia before the event. A few (again around 3 or 4) had already made a few edits prior or were involved in open culture (two people were from Europeana so knew about CC licensing, etc).
Trainers
For preparation• Wikipedia:Tutorial • Help:Editing - traditional wiki mark up help • Wikipedia:VisualEditor/User guide - new Visual Editor help Suggestions for editingThe following was a small sample of topics and women to work on that we presented to the participants. Our suggestions for improvements were: Making sure reference links are still appropriate and functional; Adding new inline citations/references; Adding a photo; Adding an infobox; Adding data to more fields in an existing infobox; Creating headings; Adding categories; etc.
Plenty of opportunity for new articles and expansion at List of female Fellows of the Royal Society. As of 6 October 2013, there were 15 Fellows and 3 foreign members without articles.
OutcomesCoverage
Articles created
Biographies improved
Other articles improved
EvaluationSee wmuk:File:Ada_Lovelace_Day_2013_15_10_13_Melissa_Highton.pdf (PDF of participant survey carried out by Oxford University IT Services) Women in STEM resources
Note: Wikipedia pages that include lists of important women are all missing plenty of key people, so feel free to add to those lists
Last year, a similar event in Oxford attracted contributions to expand or improve Mary Somerville, Bertha Swirles, The Million Women Study, Cynthia Longfield, Thekla Resvoll, Sydney Mary Thompson, Edith Bülbring, Marthe Vogt, Ida Mann, Joyce Lambert, Rosalind Pitt-Rivers, and June Almeida, and create Julia Bodmer. |