182. Power On! The Fight for Equity in Tech ft. Drs. Jean Ryoo & Jane Margolis
5/9/2025
In this episode, Natasha chats with UCLA researchers Dr. Jean Ryoo and Dr. Jane Margolis, who are leading efforts to broaden participation in K–12 computer science education. Their research led to the creation of Power On!, a graphic novel that follows four high school students as they confront the harm technology has caused in their community. Power On! brings to life the ethical complexities of technology and why young readers need the knowledge to be critical creators, not merely users who are shaped and controlled by it. Listen in as we explore how to better prepare students, not just for computer science careers, but to become empowered, critical users and creators of technology.
About Dr. Ryoo:
Dr. Jean Ryoo is the Director of Research at UCLA’s Computer Science Equity Project, championing equity in STEM by amplifying minoritized voices. Her work transforms research into action—highlighted by Power On!, a graphic novel published by MIT Press—and she collaborates with initiatives like Girls Who Code and the Exploratorium’s Tinkering Studio. An AERA Jan Hawkins Early Career Award honoree with support from NSF, the Gates Foundation, and others, she earned her Ph.D. from UCLA, her Master’s in Teaching from Hawai’i, and her Bachelor’s from Harvard.
About Dr. Margolis:
Dr. Jane Margolis is a transformative leader in equitable computer science education. As a Senior Researcher Emerita at UCLA, she’s been challenging the status quo since 1994 by championing the inclusion of women and students of color. Co-author of Power On! and the groundbreaking texts Unlocking the Clubhouse and Stuck in the Shallow End, she helped launch the UCLA CS Equity Project and build a lasting partnership with LAUSD. Named a White House Champion of Change in 2016, Margolis’s work continues to redefine who gets to shape our digital future.
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Check out our full video interview with Dr. Jean Ryoo and Dr. Jane Margolis above or the edited audio podcast episode for the highlights of our conversation below!
Links from the Show:
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Power On! graphic novel by Dr. Jean J. Ryoo and Dr. Jane Margolis
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