Study confirms Computer Science as the least popular UK science
pcgamer.comComputer Science is now not only the least popular science chosen for study in the UK, but also one that sees boys outnumbering girls by around six to one. That's according to a recent study from BCS, a UK-based charity with a focus on stirring up enthusiasm for the study of technology-related subjects.
«Computer Science (or its equivalent) appears to be the least popular science subject and there are grounds for trying to understand this and to raise its esteem and attractiveness,» the key findings section relays.
As for the balance of male and female participation, it «can be in excess of 10:1 in some cases,» the study notes. And «while male:female ratios of 2:1 were not untypical of the older Information and Communications Technology (ICT) curricula, the move to a more computing-focused approach has seen the imbalance grow: most regularly to around the 5-6:1 level.»
It also highlights that in England specifically, «The ratio of male:female participation/awards worsens markedly from level 2 to Level 3.»
Why does it matter how many females choose to study IT, you ask? The work's still getting done, right? The problem arises because «teams that develop, say, the use of AI in medicine, or algorithms that affect our financial lives or employment chances need to be diverse to ensure outcomes are fair and relevant to everyone in society.»
A fair point, though the binary nature of these particular results does have me wondering how representative the numbers might be of the wider spectrum of genders. Either the study only gave participants the option of male or female, or there is a distinct lack of trans, non-binary and other genders permeating the space.
Either way, something needs to change. Though, while all this paints
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