10:10am Friday 12th March 2010
By James Rush
Female computer buffs from across the world will be travelling to Bradford to attend the Women in Games Conference 2010 later this month.
The international conference, now in its seventh consecutive year and hosted by Bradford College and the University of Bradford, aims to promote the inclusion and advancement of women in the global computer games industry, a sector traditionally dominated by young, white, middle-class males.
The conference, held in the Norcroft Centre at the University of Bradford on Thursday, March 25, and Friday, March 26, will showcase the talents of industry leaders, academic research and the latest in new gaming technologies.
Key themes for 2010 will look at diversity, nationalist and ethnicity as well as gender.
Mark Eyles, founder of Women in Games, said: “We’re very excited to be hosting the next Women in Games conference in Bradford, through a joint collaboration between the University of Bradford and Bradford College.
“Both institutions have a commitment to computer games and will be working closely with local developers to ensure that Women in Games continues to act as a bridge between industry and academia.”
Delegates will be invited to attend the full two-day conference, which will be packed full of seminars and presentations by keynote speakers.
Michele Sutton, Bradford College principal, said: “People are at the heart of education and Women in Games underpins our long history of inclusivity at Bradford College.”
Dr Ian Palmer, Dean of School of Computing, Informatics and Media at the university, said: “Technology is a global industry. Our students need to be ready for tomorrow. The University of Bradford is active in promoting games and technology to women and those traditionally not involved within the industry.
‘‘We are passionately dedicated to celebrating diversity and confronting inequality.”
Co-organiser and lecturer, Marian Carr, said: “I’m hoping the event has a positive impact – promoting and encouraging women to thrive within the gaming world.”
The deadline for conference passes is midnight on Sunday. For more information, or to book a pass, visit womeningames.com.
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