Leading Nigerian tech company SkillPaddy has collaborated with ethical business bank Unity Bank Plc to train 1,000 female software engineers through their new “Count Her In Tech’ program. The partnership seeks to boost women’s participation in the tech industry where they comprise only 33% of the global workforce. The Count Her In Program The “Count Her In Tech’ program aligns with the 2024 International Women’s Day theme, #InspireInclusion, which celebrates women who advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. “As a bank committed to fostering economic empowerment and gender equality, we are proud
NASA has announced the first winners of its Space Tech Catalyst prize, which aims to engage more underrepresented and diverse individuals in space tech. The initiative is part of NASA’s broader commitment to fostering a more inclusive environment. Each Space Tech Catalyst prize winner receives $25,000 to contribute to creating a more inclusive space technology ecosystem. “As NASA continues to explore the unknown, making the impossible possible, we are committed to engaging talents from all backgrounds to advance exploration,” said Shahra Lambert, NASA’s senior advisor for engagement, in a press statement.
Recent findings from a comprehensive review have highlighted biases in commonly used medical devices and technologies that can harm people of color. These include optical medical devices like pulse oximeters, AI-assisted devices, and polygenic risk scores (PRS) in genomics. Biases In Medical Devices The review was initiated by the UK’s former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, and conducted by a panel of experts. “Making sure the healthcare system works for everyone, regardless of ethnicity, is paramount to our values as a nation,” Junior Health Minister Andrew Stephenson told The Guardian. “It supports our
Lanny Smoot, a Disney Research Fellow and a Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development member, has been inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. This recognition marks him as the first Disney Imagineer to receive this honor and only the second individual from The Walt Disney Company to be inducted. Lanny Smoot Smoot’s induction into the Hall of Fame is a personal triumph and testament to his nearly three decades of relentless innovation and creativity at Disney. “I was honored and humbled at being inducted into the National Inventors
Derek “MixedByAli” Ali, a multi-Grammy Award-winning audio engineer, has recently raised $7.5 million for his startup, EngineEars. Ali’s journey in music has been marked by his work with influential artists like Roddy Ricch, Donald Glover, and Kendrick Lamar. Ali’s Journey To Music Ali’s passion for music emerged from having little to no formal musical training and growing up with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He found his calling in high school by experimenting with technology and music, leading to his early experiments with custom ringtones that laid the groundwork for a
Black-owned startup The SMART Tire Company (STC) is calling on Black celebrities, investors, and engineers to help disrupt the global tire market industry at $300 billion. SMART tires: TIME’s Best Inventions STC is best known for its space-age tires, which are changing the way vehicles perform on and off the road. The tires were initially designed for NASA’s Mars Rover program, but STC was founded to commercialize this advanced tire technology as part of the FedTech NASA Startup Program. The company’s inaugural product is a high-performance, airless bicycle tire made
Black-owned London-based startup Koalaa has recently closed a significant funding round of $1.2 million (£925,000) for its world-first soft prosthetic arms. Koalaa Established in 2020 by Imperial College alumnus Nate Macabuag, Koalaa has been dedicated to addressing three critical challenges faced by the limb difference community worldwide. These are access, affordability, and comfort, with their creations crafted from breathable fabric, offering a lightweight alternative to conventional prosthetics. Macabuag was named as part of the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe Class of 2021. His design through Koalaa has proven to especially
NASA plans to focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education for a future diverse workforce. NASA’s Mission Equity This week, the agency published its Equity Action Plan 2023, which included new commitments to continue removing inequitable barriers and challenges facing underserved communities. In line with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to racial equity (Executive Order 14091), NASA’s plan represents a contribution towards a more equitable society. The 2023 Equity Plan includes increasing the utilization and integration of contractors and businesses from underserved communities to expand equity in NASA’s procurement process. It
