In this photo made on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, the CMU Highly Intelligent Mobile Platform robot, known as CHIMP, performs a set of doorway tests during a preparation run at the National Robotics Engineering Center in Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon researchers are testing the new search-and-rescue robot that will compete in the U.S. Defense Department's upcoming national robotics competition in Florida. Competitors from other schools and companies will be vying for a $2 million U.S. Defense Department prize. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
An-Li became a reporter while completing her law degree at Stanford. In law school, she wrote about housing affordability, criminal justice and economic development, among other topics. She also served as the intern to NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg in Washington, DC, helping Ms. Totenberg to cover the U.S. Supreme Court and other legal matters. Originally from Pittsburgh, An-Li interned with the investigations team at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette before joining 90.5 WESA in August
In this photo made on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013, the CMU Highly Intelligent Mobile Platform robot, known as CHIMP, performs a set of doorway tests during a preparation run at the National Robotics Engineering Center in Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon researchers are testing the new search-and-rescue robot that will compete in the U.S. Defense Department's upcoming national robotics competition in Florida. Competitors from other schools and companies will be vying for a $2 million U.S. Defense Department prize. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
While the robotics sector usually figures heavily into economic development strategies for southwestern Pennsylvania, there’s an effort underway to make that vision more gender-inclusive.
The Pittsburgh Robotics Network is seeking volunteers to form a local Women in Robotics chapter. The group will be part of a global organization open to women, non-binary people, and allies.
“The world of what we would call deep tech or very high-tech industry areas such as robotics, [artificial intelligence], machine learning … is growing fast, and it tends to be male-dominated,” said Jennifer Apicella, director of strategic partnerships and programs at the Pittsburgh Robotics Network.
“We are seeing a need for intentional outreach and engagement to other groups that aren’t naturally flowing into that workforce,” Apicella said.
She said organizers of the local Women in Robotics group want to improve the workplace experience for employees in their industry who are not men while also increasing access to jobs.
“We have over 100 robotics companies that currently operate here commercially,” she said, referring to the robotics sector’s footprint in the Pittsburgh region. “And there are women working at just about every one of those organizations. They may be experiencing in their day-to-day not a lot of other interactions with other women in robotics within the culture of their companies.”
Through the Women in Robotics chapter, those individuals could identify measures such as flexible hours and remote work policies to attract and retain more diverse employees, she said.
“We are seeing a lot more companies realize that the humans that do this work, the humans that build the machines, the humans that troubleshoot the machines, the humans that sell these machines or that run the teams – the humans are the ones doing this work, and they are the ones with the needs,” she said.
“And so I think any company that wants to create more diverse, inclusive and equitable opportunities has to become more insightful about what it is they’re offering and what types of humans they’re welcoming into their company culture.”
Apicella said the local chapter would likely launch programs early next year. Chapter members will determine which programs to offer, she said, though she expects there will be mentorship opportunities.
People who work in industry or academia are welcome to participate, as are those interested in pursuing careers in the field. They can sign up here.
