women in stem – Ruth Stalker-Firth

August 23, 2026 Musings

What Do You Need? From Grassroots AI to HCI Research

A grassroots AI community built around one simple question — “What do you need?” — has led to a full research paper in Interacting with Computers. We all need to be seen and heard. We all matter. The spaces we build outside academia and industry are the real deal. The only deal. They are real life.

June 11, 2026 Musings

Shaped by the learner: Building an AI course in real-time

Most of the time it felt messy and I didn’t feel too confident and some of the time I was just exhausted. But, now looking back, I am really pleased with the results.

May 13, 2026 Musings

Demystifying AI on VIA, Tuesdays in June 2026

I am thrilled to be ‘demystifying AI’ on VIA in June, Tuesday mornings at 9.30am. This is a four-part course for everyday life. Together we will explore AI: How to understand, use and explain it.

February 26, 2026 Musings

The talk I didn’t know I needed to hear

The words I was weaving, giving and receiving with those lovely women in the audience, were also a conversation I was having with myself.

February 24, 2026 Musings

When computers were women in Maple Village

I find that time spent with other women is very powerful and whilst this talk may seem to be about the past, it really is an invitation to the future.