Microsoft Gives $10M to University of Washington for New Computer Science Building

GeekWire | Taylor Soper | June 11

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/microsoft-gives-10m-to-university-of-washington-for-new-computer-science-building/

“Microsoft wants to help more University of Washington students study computer science, and it’s making a big donation to help make it happen. The Redmond-based company is announcing a $10 million gift to help the UW’s overcrowded Computer Science & Engineering department construct a second building on campus.”

 

New Standards to Be Set for High School Computer Science Training

The News Tribune | Melissa Santos | June 10

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/06/10/3833885/new-standards-to-be-set-for-high.html

“A new state law aims to expand computer science education in high schools, something supporters say will help prepare Washington’s graduates to fill high-paying computer science jobs. The measure Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law Wednesday requires the state to adopt computer science learning standards for K-12 students, as well as new standards for teachers to earn a computer science endorsement.”

 

Amazon Offers Jackson the Chance to Push Diversity Issue

Seattle Times | Jay Greene | June 10

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-offers-jackson-the-chance-to-push-diversity-issue/

“On Wednesday, Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos carved out time for Jackson at the shareholder meeting at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. “I very much appreciate your coming to the meeting,” Bezos said before letting Jackson present his appeal to the company’s directors and shareholders. Jackson asked Amazon to detail the diversity data of its workforce, to commit to actively searching for blacks, Latinos and women for its board, and to help improve science and technology education in minority communities”

 

Trade Promotion Law Can Help Boost Washington’s Tech Economy

The Olympian | Michael Schutzler & Dean Garfield | June 10

http://www.theolympian.com/2015/06/10/3767225/trade-promotion-law-can-help-boost.html

“No other state matches Washington’s combination of tech export value and growth. We export nearly $20 billion in hardware, software, and digital services — growing 10 percent annually. These are tech exports developed by Washington residents and sold to customers around the world. While we’ve historically been leaders in tech and software, we are facing a new kind of threat to our competitive position.”

 

Intel Forms Venture Fund to Invest in Diversity

USA Today | Jessica Guynn | June 9

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/06/09/intel-venture-capital-diversity-fund/28737261/

“Intel has formed a venture capital fund to invest $125 million in technology companies with diverse founders or executive teams. It’s the latest effort to address a deeply entrenched problem in Silicon Valley: Women and underrepresented minorities have been largely left out of one of one of the world’s greatest wealth creation machines.”

 

NSA Spying Is Going to Cost the Tech Sector Much More than We Thought

TIME | Claire Groden | June 9

http://time.com/3914843/surveillance-tech-sector/

“NSA surveillance is going to cost the U.S. tech sector a lot more than originally thought. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a Washington, D.C. -based think tank that advocates for policies that nurture technology innovation, has released a new report in which it raises its previous estimate of how much surveillance by the U.S. intelligence community could cost U.S. tech companies.”

 

The Top Cities for Employee Satisfaction

Forbes | Kathryn Dill | June 9

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathryndill/2015/06/09/the-top-cities-for-employee-satisfaction/

“Many smaller cities fare well for employee satisfaction as well. Salt Lake City, Austin, Raleigh-Durham, and Oklahoma City all make the cut. Major east coast mainstays Boston and Washington, D.C. have satisfied workforces as well, as does the Pacific Northwest’s tech flagship, Seattle.”