The Purdue Women in High-Performance Computing (WHPC) chapter recently hosted a workshop and panel discussion that delved into how double standards and bias shape belonging in computing and HPC. The event, titled “Women in HPC Presents: Intersectional Voices on Double Standards and Belonging,” was highly successful, with more than 20 attendees representing multiple departments and organizations at Purdue.

The 90-minute event took place on Friday, March 6th, at RCAC’s Envision Center. Hosted in conjunction with the Black Cultural Center (BCC), the Native American Educational and Cultural Center (NAECC), and the LGBTQ Center, the session centered around open discussion between audience and panelist members as they shared their lived experiences and observations of double standards in classrooms, labs, research groups, and campus life. The panel speakers included undergraduate and graduate students Gemma Nicole Doner, Xavier Amari Gardner, Alyssa Alexandria Nez, and Madiha Fathima, as well as moderator and RCAC staff member Suzanna Gardner.

Throughout the event, the panelists discussed their experiences both at Purdue and abroad, offering insight, advice, and hope to members of marginalized groups, as well as understanding and education for attendees who may not have faced bias or double standards in the workplace. The open discussion format stoked audience engagement and ultimately led to a highly impactful event for all involved.

“Attending the WHPC event provided me with a crucial opportunity to build my network of folks using high-performance computing resources in their work,” says Dr. Ali Bramson, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at Purdue and head of the Bramson Research Lab. “I felt a strong sense of belonging during the event that can often be hard to find in the workplace. I now know that I am part of this community, and I am excited to continue to get more involved. The event gave me a space to connect with people who have had very similar and very different experiences from me, and I learned a lot through the format and everyone’s contributions. It has helped me build my network across campus and research disciplines outside my own. I look forward to seeing where these new connections take me and my work!”

Lunch was provided for all attendees during the workshop and panel discussion. RCAC would like to thank Aztlan Combat Sports, a woman-owned business based in Lafayette, Indiana, for generously sponsoring this event.

Purdue Women in High-Performance Computing Program

Purdue Women in HPC is part of a broader engagement initiative by the Rosen Center for Advanced Computing (RCAC) and is led by women staffers affiliated with RCAC. WHPC is a dedicated community encompassing undergraduate, graduate, staff, and faculty men and women who are interested in exposing women to high-performance computing and encouraging their pursuit of research and careers in HPC and other technology fields.

Within the WHPC initiative, RCAC provides partial travel assistance to undergraduate and graduate students, empowering their participation in various national conferences that align with WHPC’s objectives. The WHPC travel scholarship sends students to numerous conferences each year, most recently including the Grace Hopper Celebration, Society of Women Engineers, and Supercomputing.

For full eligibility requirements, and to apply for this scholarship, please visit the WHPC Scholarship page.

In addition to the scholarship program, Purdue WHPC organizes a range of activities, including regular meetings to discuss technical HPC-related issues of interest, opportunities to network with the WHPC community, a mentorship program, workshops, and exposure to external resources and opportunities.

If you would like to attend and/or are interested in future participation, please contact us at whpc@purdue.edu. You may also subscribe to our WHPC List Serve.

Written by: Jonathan Poole, poole43@purdue.edu