INFORMS Open Forum

Hi everyone,

I recently came across a fascinating piece in the Diversity Blogs titled "STEM Outreach in a Virtual World" by Aida Rahmattalabi, Caroline Johnston, and Phebe Vayanos. You can find the full blog post here: STEM Outreach in a Virtual World.

In summary, the authors discuss their innovative efforts to expose high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to the fields of operations research (OR) and artificial intelligence (AI). Originally planned as a physical event, they adapted it into a virtual format due to the pandemic. The event utilized Gather.town, a virtual interactive platform, to engage students in a unique learning experience. The silver lining of going virtual was that it expanded the outreach, involving students from coast-to-coast and mentors across the continent.

This blog resonated with my experience in the sense that I, too, was exposed to the wonders of OR and AI during my high school days, though not in such a structured and innovative manner. Early exposure to these fields can indeed make a significant difference in shaping a student's career trajectory.

However, a divergence in my experience from the blog's narrative is the accessibility and resource availability. While the blog talks about harnessing the power of technology to bridge gaps, my initiation into the field was more traditional, reliant on in-person classes and workshops. It makes me wonder how much more I would have benefited from such virtual platforms during my early days.

Building on this, I'm keen to hear your thoughts: How do you think virtual platforms like Gather. town can further revolutionize OR and AI education, especially in reaching out to underrepresented communities? Do you believe there's a significant difference between traditional and virtual learning experiences, particularly for complex fields like OR?

Looking forward to a lively discussion!