Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) recently hosted its 7th annual Women in Data Science (WiDS) conference for data scientists, industry professionals, recent graduates and others interested in the field. As an independent satellite of the global WiDS conference celebrating International Women's Day, the Livermore hybrid event was held to highlight the work and careers of LLNL and regional data-science professionals.
Hosted at the University of California Livermore Collaboration Center, the all-day event included technical talks, panel discussions, speed mentoring, a poster session and networking opportunities. Keynote speaker and LLNL Distinguished Member of Technical Staff Carol Woodward spoke about her unconventional career path. She described her experience as one of few women in male-dominated classes at Louisiana State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics, and how she discovered the field of applied mathematics after nearly becoming a microbiologist. Throughout her talk, Woodward gave credit to those who mentored her at every step of her journey.
"[With] the power of the right cohort and engaged mentors, the right environment - it's amazing what you can accomplish," she said.
