Python User Group Meeting: Diversity in Software Engineering

Diversity in Software Engineering

This time the topic will be diversity, not as in diversity of technology, but as in diversity of people in the software engineering process. So, our meetup will be less technically- and more socially-minded than usual. This topic popped-up during the organization of the EuroPython 2014 (https://ep2014.europython.eu) conference and was much discussed on the EuroPython mailing list (https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/europython). Therefore, we want to create a temporary open space during our meetup to continue this discussion, exchange and share experience. The questions treated will be along the lines of:

• what is diversity and what is not?

• why do we want diversity?

• how can we improve diversity?

People in our Python Users group in Berlin (as well as in like-minded ones) are also from very diverse areas like academia/education, industry, and freelancers, as well as special interest groups like the Python Ladies or Ruby Girls. We hope to see many of them during our next meetup and learn from each other about the value of diversity and how to better achieve it. Some food for thought specifically on gender aspects can be found in this NYT article (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/technology/technologys-man-problem.html).

Unlike with previous meetups the format this time will not be a single-person presentation with Q&A, but a more discussion-like open space with individual statements and decent moderation where needed. The language will be English and German, depending on the participants' preferences.

Lightning Talks

Like before, there will also be the opportunity to give lightning talks (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_talk) at the end of the meetup. Please register yours on this EtherPad (https://pad.freitagsrunde.org/WZGbWGZwiY).

Restaurant

At about 8.30 pm we will move to a nearby restaurant, usually the Kuchen-Kaiser (http://www.yelp.com/biz/kuchenkaiser-berlin) at Oranienplatz.