Karen is co-leading two SIGs at CHI. In this one, Karen and co-presenter Bill Kunes be sharing the work of their students at the University of Maryland. Below is the description. You can learn more on the conference website.

A constant flow of reporting documents the lack of women and other underrepresented groups in high tech. In response, companies are working to fill the hiring pipeline. But beyond filling the pipeline, statistics show women leave technology fields in mid-career 50% more often than men. Recent research on retention and work-life issues reveals key factors in women??s success, which supports interventions that are being developed.

The games for good movement tackles social problems and offers a potentially engaging intervention approach. Working with the research data on the lives and success factors of women in technology companies, the organizers and a group of students are building a set of games to raise awareness and change behavior in a fun way.

SIG attendees will be able to respond to these game concepts, play selected games with mock-ups and provide feedback, and contribute ideas of how gaming can be used to support diversity.