News in Brief

CMU researchers question gender representation

Three Carnegie Mellon scientists — professors of psychology Roberta Klatzky, Lori Holt, and Marlene Behrmann — recently questioned gender representation in the February 2015 special issue of Cognition, “The Changing Face of Cognition.”

Klatzky, Holt, and Behrmann wrote an opinion piece in Cognition, stating that they were “struck by the fact that among the 19 authors listed for the 12 articles, only one female author was present.”

“As cognitive scientists, we know that subtle, even unconscious, biases shape decision making. We hope that by calling attention to the gender disparity in invited scientific contributions we can raise awareness and contribute to developing inclusive strategies,” Holt, who is also a member of the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition (CNBC) said in a university news release. “It is very important that the new generation of women in cognitive science, and STEM fields generally, recognizes that their contributions are critical.”

Carnegie Mellon’s own Department of Psychology, housed in the Dietrich College for Humanities and Social Sciences, has 26 full-time faculty members, 11 of whom are women.

“The fate of women in science continues to be problematic and, although some progress has been made, many challenges remain,” Behrmann, co-director of the CNBC, said in the news release. “These challenges go beyond authorship and journals, and concerted efforts need to be mustered to address this issue of disproportionate gender distribution in cognitive science and in science more generally.”

INI celebrates 25 years of network research

Students, alumni, and visitors to Carnegie Mellon saw The Fence painted during Carnival in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Information Networking Institute (INI).
The INI offers graduate degrees to students in information networking, information security, and mobility and software management. These degrees teach students skills at the intersection of technology, economics, and secure networks and systems.

“Today, the INI has more than 1,500 alumni who are in cross-functional positions and leadership roles around the globe,” said Director of the INI Dena Haritos Tsamitis in a university news release. “The INI is proud to showcase the accomplishments of its alumni, faculty and students in celebration of its 25th anniversary.”
The INI was the first program of its kind in information networking through a partnership with Bellcore. During Carnival weekend, alumnus Hoorman Radfar (CIT ’04) gave a keynote to celebrate the anniversary.

“Throughout its 25-year history, the INI has demonstrated relevance and agility in effectively delivering multiple interdisciplinary programs through a variety of innovative delivery models,” Tsamitis said in the release.