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Women’s representation in STEM careers continues to be a pressing issue globally, with only 31% of research and development positions in science held by women. To address this gender gap and create an inclusive tech industry, the Code; Without Barriers Hackathon 2023 was held on June 8, 2023.
The hackathon, sponsored by Microsoft and organized by iTrain Asia Pte. Ltd. in collaboration with Girls in Tech, Inc., aimed to foster diversity and empower women in tech.
Among the standout participants were two talented students from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) – Sangeeta Yadav and Devina Wiyani. They demonstrated their exceptional skills and dedication, ultimately winning the hackathon and showcasing their ability to thrive in the tech ecosystem.
Code; Without Barriers Hackathon: A platform for empowerment
The Code; Without Barriers Hackathon 2023 gathered 770 female participants from 12 countries across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The event provided an inclusive platform for women to address various problem statements in the tech industry.
Sangeeta Yadav, a Master’s student in Data Science & Business Analytics at APU, excelled in solving a problem statement presented by HCLTech. Her task involved predicting potential influenza outbreaks in different regions using either the Twitter Dataset or the Influenza Surveillance Dataset.
Sangeeta’s work was deemed crucial for public health officials and medical professionals to prepare and respond effectively to influenza outbreaks. By forecasting outbreaks in advance, resources could be better allocated, and preventive measures could be implemented, ultimately minimizing the impact on public health.
Devina Wiyani, a final-year student pursuing BSc (Hons) in Computer Science with a specialization in Data Analytics at APU, tackled a challenging problem statement from Carsome. Her task was to develop a pricing algorithm accurately predicting the selling price range of cars based on auction data, brand, and mileage.
Devina’s successful development of a regression model with a high accuracy rate of 93% earned her applause from a Carsome representative. Additionally, Devina went above and beyond by deploying the model and creating a user-friendly mini system for easy interaction.
Triumph Over Challenges
The rigorous hackathon lasted for one-and-a-half months, providing participants with an opportunity to enhance their skills and gain valuable experience. Devina shared that the project was one of her first capstone projects, and she found the learning process challenging yet rewarding.
Despite starting from scratch, her determination and continuous learning from Kaggle and GitHub notebooks led her to create an impressive data analytics solution using Python.
Devina’s remarkable achievement did not go unnoticed, as she was offered an internship at Carsome upon winning the hackathon. Her experience not only boosted her confidence but also motivated her to pursue even more significant projects to enrich her portfolio.
Prior to the hackathon, Devina had attended several events by Girls in Tech, Inc., where she met inspirational women in the tech industry. Her anticipation for the hackathon was well-founded, as it provided her with a chance to showcase her talent and thrive in a supportive environment.
Both Sangeeta and Devina encouraged aspiring women in tech to step forward and embrace opportunities like the Code; Without Barriers Hackathon. Sangeeta emphasized that it’s never too late to start and urged women to unleash their potential fearlessly. Devina advised her counterparts to continue proving themselves regardless of identity, urging them to persevere and thrive through any challenges they may face.
The Code; Without Barriers Hackathon 2023 successfully exemplified the spirit of diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. The remarkable achievements of Sangeeta Yadav and Devina Wiyani from Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) highlighted the untapped talent of women in STEM careers.
This empowering event not only provided a platform for showcasing skills but also offered opportunities for internships and career growth. As the tech industry continues to evolve, it is crucial to encourage and support women to take on roles that have been historically under-represented by females.
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