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Computer science student a finalist for national information technology award

January 25, 2022

photo: Alyshia Bustos
Alyshia Bustos

Alyshia Bustos, a graduate student in the Department of Computer Science, has been selected as a finalist for the National Center for 2022 Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Collegiate Award.

Bustos’ project is “New Technologies and Approaches to Teaching Diverse Youth About Computer Science Through Interactive Murals.”

The award recognizes technical contributions to projects that demonstrate a high level of innovation and potential impact. The 80 finalists were selected based on their achievements and technical abilities exhibited through their projects submitted in their preliminary pound applications.

Bustos received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degrees in computer science from UNM. She is a Ph.D. student studying with Leah Buechley, associate professor of computer science, in the Hand and Machine Lab in Farris Engineering Center. Bustos was one of the creators of an interactive mural outside the lab, as part of the National Science Foundation-funded research project Developing Novel Surface Computing Technologies and Learning Experiences to Engage Underrepresented Youth in STEM. The images and interactions have been designed to illuminate connections between textiles and computing, as well as highlight the role of women in the history of computer science.

photo: interactive mural
The interactive mural outside the Hand and Machine Lab in Farris Engineering Center (photo by Eric Swanson).