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Bukola Somide
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The world’s first-ever African American interactive STEM doll is here to enlighten the youth. As AfroTech previously told you, Bukola Somide is the creator of Somi, an interactive doll designed to break down education barriers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) for minority children. The software engineer and inventor boasts nearly two decades of experience of working within the information technology sector. According to a press release, Bukola Somide recalls being the only Black woman or Black person serving on the Software Development team in various occasions. Aiming to create a more diverse future, the Somi doll was birthed to demystify STEM and create representation for underserved children. “Representation matters in tech because it gives hope to under-served children who may otherwise think their dreams are impossible due to lack of accessible role models. A child seeing a doll who looks like them, engaged in Computer Science, helps to shatter a mental...
The underrepresentation of minorities in technology has long been a barrier to higher income generation and career advancement. According to a troubling report on equity in technology , minority women constitute less than 10 percent of U.S. women earning undergraduate degrees in computer science. Equally concerning is the significant achievement gap in the percentage of minority males graduating with computer science degrees when compared to the accelerated pace of their white counterparts. Software engineer and inventor Bukola Somide is working to change these disturbing statistics by motivating young people of color to learn more about technology. To advance computer science education in underserved communities, Somide has developed a range of pioneering products for children. She created a children’s book series entitled “Somi the Computer Scientist: Princess Can Code,” and recently brought the book’s title character to life with a new invention: the Somi doll. The interactive...