Wednesday, March 10, 2021 – The District is sharing this announcement from the Vancouver Island Regional Library:
From now until the end of March, any self-identified woman, aged 19 or under, can sign up for VIRL’s STEAM Scratch Contest for Young Women. The contest kicked off on International Women’s Day (March 8) and invites participants to use the code block building interface, Scratch, to build an animation, story, or video game on whatever inspires them.
“The fields of computer programming and coding are still largely dominated by men,” says Dalia Levy, Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) Information Technician, and event creator. “This contest is all about letting young women explore their creativity and passions, and potentially hook into a new career path or lifelong interest. There are also some great prizes for some of the lucky coders.”
Prizes include:
- A $50 gift card to Best Buy
- Library swag including a VIRL whale plushie
- A copy of Remarkable Minds: 17 More Pioneering Women in Science and Medicine
From now until March 31, individuals and groups can submit their work to the contest to cc@virl.bc.ca. Multiple entries are encouraged from all participants. More information about this event is available on the VIRL website.
Scratch is a free, open-source coding program developed by the Michigan Institute of Technology (MIT). The following description is pulled from the Scratch website:
With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century.
Media Contact
David Carson, Director, Corporate Communications and Strategic Initiatives
250.327.3651
dcarson@virl.bc.ca