Computer Science Society: Vice President

As the Events Executive of the UCL CSS this year, I have had the privilege of working closely with the rest of the committee to organise engaging socials and an exciting hackathon. However, I’d like to do a lot more next year.

I am committed to organising a variety of career events to help our members prepare for their futures. This includes hosting more CV roasts, career talks, mock interviews, and panels with successful student interns, industry professionals, and recruiters. 

While I recognise the importance of career development, I believe that our society is united by a deeper passion for computer science. Therefore I’d seek to organise speaker events with academics and individuals who have influenced computer science, such as the event I organised for UCL Effective Altruism with an AI researcher from the FHI at Oxford or the talk organised by the UCL Science Magazine with the inventor of C++.

Hackathons are a hallmark of our society, and I am enthusiastic about enhancing their frequency and using them to improve participation in CS. In particular, I envision organising an additional 24-hour overnight hackathon as well as cybersecurity capture-the-flag contests to highlight our member’s abilities to both create and destroy. I'd also like to better publicise hackathons organised by other universities and help UCL students form teams. Finally, I’m committed to furthering a sense of community amongst CS students by making use of our common room to hold weekly hangouts.

Hi, I'm Ashley, currently a first year MEng CS student. As a dedicated member of UCL CSS, I would make an excellent vice president. The society has served as an ideal platform for computer science enthusiasts to network, collaborate and support each other as we pursue our individual goals. CSS has encouraged me to venture out of the dark hobbit hole of a bedroom, especially at the beginning of the term where I met many friends and made fond memories, which is why I am eager to contribute to this community. 

During my time in secondary school, I initiated and led two clubs, which enabled me to develop the necessary experience and skills to serve as the vice president of CSS. I will bring skills of both passion and leadership, providing enjoyable and career-related opportunities for you. 

One of my primary goals is to organise more socials in collaboration with other societies. I also understand the importance of gaining real-world experience and insights into the tech industry. To this end, I will work to organise further events featuring industry professionals where you can network and learn more about emerging technologies. (And of course more hackathons with free food)

Overall, my experience, dedication, and passion make me the ideal candidate for the position of vice president, and I would be honoured to have the opportunity to serve the society in this capacity.

Kekw,

Ashley <3

I am running for Vice President of the Computer Science Society with the objective of creating impactful and enduring change. If afforded the opportunity, I would target several key areas.

Firstly, the underrepresentation of women and specific ethnic minorities within the department. Despite this being a long-term and ubiquitous problem in our field globally, we as UCL’s CSS can put ourselves at the forefront of this issue through more creative initiatives to enable these underrepresented groups.

Furthermore, there is opportunity to foster a greater sense of community within our department. Specifically - as one of the most funded departments at UCL - I believe that we would benefit incredibly from the creation of a common room or study area (aside from the Science Library's fourth floor) as well as more and bigger hackathons, networking opportunities, socials etc.

Additionally, I would give more attention to supporting students who wish to undertake entrepreneurial activities, such as startups, during or after their degree through industry events, professional advice, grants and funding.

To briefly touch upon why I would be an ideal candidate, I have experience as Events Officer for UCL’s Connect.ed Society as well as a Transition Mentor for the department, whilst balancing a part-time role and personal projects.

I hope that you will join me in making the Computer Science Society a driver of greater diversity, community and entrepreneurship within UCL and the field.

Having spent a year under the CSS, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a member and am eager to help build the community, serving as my primary motivation for running.

If elected as Vice President, I would prioritize two key areas of focus: community-building and professional development.

Firstly, I believe that building a strong sense of community is essential to the success of our society. By creating a welcoming and supportive environment where all members feel valued, we can foster collaboration and growth. To that end, I would work to organize more intersociety social events and hackathons that would bring our members together and enable them to connect on a deeper level.

Secondly, I am passionate about professional development and helping our members to reach their full potential. As Vice President, I would aim to organize workshops, guest speakers, and other events that would provide our members with valuable skills and knowledge that they can apply in their careers.

To achieve these goals, I would leverage my experience as an organizer and leader that have honed my communication and management skills which would lead our society to new heights.

In conclusion, I am running for the position of VP because I am committed to building a strong and inclusive community, and eager to help our members develop their skills and achieve their goals. If elected, I look to promote community-building and professional development within our society.