Google Data

We are excited to announce that professor registration for the 2015 Google Online Marketing Challenge (GOMC 2015) is now open.

The Google Online Marketing Challenge, now in its eighth year, is an annual global online marketing competition for students from higher education institutions around the world. Student teams develop and run an online advertising campaign using Google AdWords and/or Google+ for a real business or non-profit organization of their choice, using a US $250 budget provided by Google. An independent GOMC Panel of Academics, along with our own team, review the campaigns and select winning teams based on the success of their campaign and the quality of their competition reports.

Why GOMC?

• GOMC provides a unique, hands-on learning experience by integrating a real-world business partner and budget into the classroom.
• Students get a chance to support their local community by working with a non-profit, and the opportunity to win donations from a total pool of US $30,000.
• GOMC enables professors to provide their students with an engaging and innovative in-class experience, which provides real-world impact and grading material.
• Great prizes for global and regional winners of the challenge, including trips to Google offices, digital devices and more.

To learn about the impact of GOMC on the lives of students and academics, check out this recent video:

What’s next?In order for a student team to participate in the competition, they need to have their Professor register first. Professors can register from Oct 8th, 2014 until April 8th, 2015, and students from October 15th, 2014 until April 22nd, 2015. For more information, please visit www.google.com/onlinechallenge. To stay informed about GOMC, add our Google+ Page to your circles: google.com/+googleonlinemarketingchallenge. Here’s your chance to make a global impact! Posted by Claire Lloyd, The Google Online Marketing Challenge Team

At Google, we’re passionate about introducing students to open source software development. Since 2005, the Open Source Programs team at Google has worked with over 10,000 students and over 485 open source projects in a variety of fields to create more code for us all.

For students ages 13-17 interested in writing code that could make a difference in the world, we’re excited to tell you about a program designed to introduce you to open source software development: Google Code-in.

December 1, 2014 kicks off the fifth consecutive year of this international, online contest designed to introduce pre-university students to the world of open source development. Open source projects are about more than just coding, and this contest highlights a variety of ways to contribute to open source projects.

You might be thinking to yourself:

• What is open source?
• What types of work do open source projects do?
• I’ve only taken one computer science class, can I contribute to an open source project?
• I’m not really into coding, how else can I contribute to open source?
• I’ve never participated in open source or an online contest before, can someone help guide me?
• Open source sounds fun, how can I get started?

If you’ve wondered about any of these questions and are a pre-university student (age 13-17) then we hope you’ll join in the fun and excitement of the Google Code-in contest starting Monday, December 1st.

For seven weeks from early December to mid January, the Google Code-in contest will have students working with up to 12 selected open source projects on a variety of tasks. The different categories of tasks that students will be able to work on include:

1. Code: writing or refactoring
2. Documentation/Training: creating/editing documents and helping others learn more
3. Outreach/research: community management, outreach/marketing, or studying problems and recommending solutions
4. Quality Assurance: testing and ensuring code is of high quality
5. User Interface: user experience research or user interface design and interaction

For more details on how you can sign up and participate, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page on the Google Code-in site. On November 12, we’ll also announce the open source organizations that will be participating in the contest.

We look forward to welcoming hundreds of students from around the world into the open source family again this year, and hope you’ll be a part of it.

Posted by Stephanie Taylor, Open Source Programs

The annual Grace Hopper Conference is just a few days away! Before the festivities officially kick off, we’re shining the spotlight on several Google Women Engineers (GWEs) who have been nominated by Googlers for the great work that they do and the contributions they have made as women in the tech industry.

For our last spotlight, we’re featuring Emily Bernier.

Can you share with us your role at Google?
I joined Google Cambridge in February 2013 as a software engineer on the Android for Education team. I have a dual background in developmental psychology and computer science, so I was psyched to have the chance to combine both interests.

My team is tackling the thorny problem of making an effective, easy-to-use tablet solution for schools. I write code across many different pieces of the Android OS; one of my first projects was writing a tool to let IT admins and teachers quickly set up hundreds or thousands of tablets by passing configuration information via NFC. Doing things at Google-scale is pretty awe-inspiring; there’s nothing quite like seeing a random teacher use an app you’ve created, or knowing that schools across the country are using code you wrote (eeee!). When I’m not coding, I work with our product management and UX teams on some of our difficult big-picture questions, and visit schools and ed-tech conferences to learn more about the growing role of technology in learning.

What do you enjoy most about being a woman in tech (or at Google specifically)?
I spend a fair amount of time with our student outreach and recruiting teams. Google is hugely committed to supporting diversity in tech and engineering, and to growing the next generation of computer scientists. Numbers we published earlier this year demonstrate how far these efforts have to go, but the creativity and enthusiasm of everyone working in this space is pretty inspiring.

What are you looking forward to most at the Grace Hopper Conference?
I’m super excited to attend the Grace Hopper Conference for the first time, and to meet more of the brilliant, phenomenal women of the computing community!

To follow the fun at Grace Hopper, check out Google Students on Google+ and Twitter using our #GoogleGHC14 hashtag.

Posted by Shawn Dye, University Programs Team

From Google Glass to Project Loon, Adwords to Docs, our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects. Interns also work across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights.

Meet Elizabeth—a sophomore majoring in Computer Science at Stanford University. She participated in our Summer Trainee Engineering Program (STEP) in Zurich this past summer on the Google Security Team. Among her many responsibilities as a Google intern, Elizabeth, along with another intern, launched a Google Women in Engineering (GWE) Mentorship program. Read on to learn more about Elizabeth.

Tell us one fun, outlandish fact about you!
I played football when I was four years old. I was a pretty incredible running back, if I say so myself.

What has been your path to your current internship at Google?
I actually just started coding less than a year ago. I took a few classes in college and found that Computer Science was pretty fascinating to me, and programming appealed to my extremely logical yet creative approach to problem solving. I looked into internship opportunities with various tech companies and was pleasantly surprised to receive an offer to work for Google in the Zurich, Switzerland office!

I was extremely excited to have the chance to work for Google and visit Europe for the first time. I’d been very inspired by Google’s incredible commitment to innovation especially when applied to a social cause. They’ve been leaders in the movement towards bringing more diversity into the tech industry and are working on projects that are centered on increasing accessibility for users in developing countries. Google is making an impact in fields I deeply care about which made it such an appealing company to work for. And having the opportunity to work on a diverse team, with people from so many different countries and cultural backgrounds, has been an invaluable experience.

What’s the best part about working with your team?
Objectively speaking, my team is awesome. Everyone is really close, so much so that we’ve all eaten practically every meal together at Google this summer. I’m amazed at how well my teammates work together professionally and how many of them have formed close personal relationships with one another. Our entire team just went together to Mallorca, Spain, which goes to show just how much fun we have together inside and outside of the office.

What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
One of my favorite moments was getting to present my project at the EMEA Tech Intern Summit. I was given the opportunity to share my project with interns from all over EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). However, I’m extremely proud of the women’s mentorship program that I co-founded and launched this summer.

Can you tell us a little bit more about the Google Women in Engineering (GWE) Mentorship Program you launched?
I, along with Alice Chang, a fellow intern, noticed a need for a program that would connect Nooglers and interns to the women’s network and community within Google Zurich. Working at Google is great in that if you ever have an idea or something you’re passionate about, everyone encourages you to pursue it wholeheartedly and see where you can take it.

We were able to talk to senior-level Googlers involved in diversity initiatives about our project proposal and to discuss how to go about designing such a program. We then did everything we needed to do to get the program off the ground: recruit experienced mentors from diverse professional backgrounds in Google Zurich, create a formal curriculum for the program, organize the dates, and match all of the mentors and mentees to ensure a successful and rewarding relationship. We are just about to complete our first mentorship cycle which we’re incredibly excited about.

Ideally, how would you expand this program?
We’ve contacted ambassadors in two other Google offices and we’re working with them to implement the program in their locations as well. We’re hoping to expand the program to all of the Google offices, and increase the number of Nooglers worldwide who are able to cycle through the program.

What impact has this mentorship program had so far that you’ve noticed?
So far, the program has definitely cultivated a greater community between experienced female Googlers and Nooglers like us! We had an amazing luncheon with all of our participants. It was a lot of fun to discuss the importance of mentorship and to initiate conversations about how to succeed as women in the tech industry.

What does “being Googley” mean to you?
Being Googley means celebrating your own diversity. It means embracing who you are—academically, professionally, culturally, and personally—and contributing your individuality to a diverse team. You are an incredibly unique, weird, and valuable individual. Own it, welcome the uniqueness of everyone around you, and come together to spark innovation.

If you could give one piece of advice to potential student applicants, what would it be?
Candidates shouldn’t be discouraged if they don’t have as much experience as others. Take it from someone who just started out programming, and who has definitely felt that overwhelming feeling when it seems like everyone around you has been coding since they were in diapers. If you work really hard and are willing to take on the pretty steep learning curve, you can be just as successful as a software engineer at a company like Google.

Outside of being a Google intern, what are some fun things you do outside the classroom/office throughout the year?
At school I’m involved in the CS 198 Section Leading program which is an opportunity for undergraduates to help teach introductory computer science courses. I also work with the Black Student Union and Society of Black Scientists and Engineers which promote community, achievement, and support among African American students within Stanford and in the surrounding communities. Otherwise, I love to play beach volleyball, read, and binge-watch TV shows.

Best conversation in a MK/cafe/elevator?
The best conversation I remember having was when I was eating dinner in Milliways Cafe and casually talking to a woman who was sitting across the table with her kids. Later on that night, I realized that I’d had dinner with Susan Wojcicki! Not recognizing her kept me from fangirling so it was probably for the better.

Dream Google office to visit?
So far I’ve been to the Mountain View, New York, Zurich, and London offices. I’d love to see the office in Sydney, Australia though!

Best intern event you’ve attended?
Definitely Noogler Prom. Nothing beats fancy dresses paired with Noogler hats.

Our technical internships for summer 2015 are now open! Apply here: http://goo.gl/7nmfXO

Additionally, follow Google Students on Google+ and use the hashtag #googleinterns to keep up with Intern Insights.

Posted by Maggie Hohlfeld, University Programs Team

The annual Grace Hopper Conference is just one week away! Before the festivities officially kick off, we’re shining the spotlight on several Google Women Engineers (GWEs) who have been nominated by Googlers for the great work that they do and the contributions they have made as women in the tech industry.

Today, we’re featuring Elynn Lee.

Can you share with us your role at Google?
I am a Master’s student in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. I was in the Turing Scholars honors program and did my thesis in Computer Science Education. I have interned twice at Google as a Software Engineering (SWE) intern in the New York office on the Google Forms team. Working as a SWE intern meant that I got to develop cool new features for Google Forms.

What do you enjoy most about being a woman in tech (or at Google specifically)?
As a woman in tech, I have always been encouraged to dream. I’ve thought of the endless opportunities in the tech industry as a chance to create my own path. Though many problems seemed too hard to solve, the support of the awesome tech community motivated me to be persistent and always reach for the stars. I’ve had the privilege of working with incredibly passionate Googlers who are truly changing the world. They taught me to be confident in my ability to make important contributions to the product and to not be afraid to be bold. Even as an intern, I was always a part of the conversation and encouraged to share my vision. At Google, I felt like I was really making a difference.

What are you looking forward to most at the Grace Hopper Conference?
At Grace Hopper, I’m looking forward to being inspired by the tech talks and connecting with other women in tech! It’s exciting to reconnect with friends and meet new people. I love learning about all of the ways that women are changing, improving, and developing the world around us.

To follow the fun at Grace Hopper and the lead-up to the celebration, check out Google Students on Google+ and Twitter using our #GoogleGHC14 hashtag. Stay tuned for more GWE spotlights here on our blog.

Posted by Shawn Dye, University Programs Team

The annual Grace Hopper Conference is just one week away! Before the festivities officially kick off, we’re shining the spotlight on several Google Women Engineers (GWEs) who have been nominated by Googlers for the great work that they do and the contributions they have made as women in the tech industry.

Today, we’re featuring Jennifer Mace.

Can you share with us your role at Google?
I’m a Site Reliability Engineer at Google – that means I’m a software engineer who works closely with our serving systems as a whole, designing traffic flow and large-scale system interactions to keep Google’s services running. A typical day’s work could see me writing automation software in Python, working with developers to tweak their new feature’s scalability and reliability, or implementing monitoring and configuration changes across our system.

What do you enjoy most about being a woman in tech (or at Google specifically)?
I love being a GWE (a Google Woman Engineer) with my team because I love the eagle-eye view we have over our serving stack, and the freedom we have to design solutions to interesting problems. I also love my team in particular because they never make me feel unusual for being a technical woman, and they passionately support diversity in software – in fact, of my two-dozen teammates, seven will be joining me at Grace Hopper, and three of those seven are guys.

What are you looking forward to most at the Grace Hopper Conference?
Last year was my first Grace Hopper, and the strongest thing that inspired me about that amazing experience were all the brilliant women who refused to settle for being ‘comfortable’. Well, in the year since then, I’ve volunteered to lead a team, given technical talks around the US and the UK, and even wrote a novel! As we like to say at Google, I’m ‘uncomfortably excited’ to see what this year’s Grace Hopper will teach me. I hope I’ll see you there!

To follow the fun at Grace Hopper and the lead-up to the celebration, check out Google Students on Google+ and Twitter using our #GoogleGHC14 hashtag. Stay tuned for more GWE spotlights here on our blog.

Posted by Shawn Dye, University Programs Team

The annual Grace Hopper Conference is just one week away! Before the festivities officially kick off, we’re shining the spotlight on several Google Women Engineers (GWEs) who have been nominated by Googlers for the great work that they do and the contributions they have made as women in the tech industry.

Today, we’re featuring Sri Velagapudi.

Can you share with us your role at Google?
I have been with Google for over four years and have been a software engineer for over 11. I currently work in an interesting overlap between Google search and Google Now on Android/IOS.

What do you enjoy most about being a woman in tech (or at Google specifically)?
I enjoy being in tech because it allows for a lot of creative freedom with minimal setup cost. Google takes that further by facilitating side projects and even providing a platform to share through demo sessions! I am happy to be a woman in tech at a time when everyone recognizes the importance of tech education and diversity within tech. I have met several inspiring engineers along the way and I hope to meet many more.

What are you looking forward to most at the Grace Hopper Conference?
Last year, I presented a poster on Stereotype Threat and attended several interesting sessions including a speed-mentoring session. That is where I met many several senior technologists and also met a student that then joined my team as a summer intern!

This year, a few of us are presenting a session on how to do good (for the world) while also improving your tech portfolio. I am really looking forward to this. Working on pet projects provides a safe place to experiment, take risks, fail, try again and learn. Our goal in this session is to help participants understand the importance of this process and to help them select a project that also gives back to society.

This year’s GHC is even larger, so I am waiting to simply absorb the enthusiasm and excitement. If I had to pick, however, I would say I am very eager about the poster session. I am always impressed by the kind of interesting problems presented and the elegant solutions that are offered. It fills my stomach with butterflies.

Also, this year, my mother and my cousin are both presenting posters for the very first time. I look forward to cheering them on.

To follow the fun at Grace Hopper and the lead-up to the celebration, check out Google Students on Google+ and Twitter using our #GoogleGHC14 hashtag. Stay tuned for more GWE spotlights here on our blog.

Posted by Shawn Dye, University Programs Team

The annual Grace Hopper Celebration is just one week away! Before the festivities officially kick off, we’re shining the spotlight on several Google Women Engineers (GWEs) who have been nominated by Googlers for the great work that they do and the contributions they have made as women in the tech industry.

Today, we’re featuring Sabrina Williams!

Can you share with us your role at Google?
I am what we call a Software Engineer in Test (SET) at Google. The title can be a little misleading – people often think that we focus on writing tests, but that isn’t quite true. We SETs are a specialized version of the typical Software Engineer (SWE); whereas a SWE focuses on creating products for our users, a SET focuses on creating tools, frameworks, and processes that make our engineers more productive. I currently work in the Ads Engineering Productivity group, but I’ve also been a SET on Google Cloud Print and Google Glass. Some of our focuses include code health, release efficiency, test efficacy, and designing for testability.

What do you enjoy most about being a woman in tech (or at Google specifically!)?
I have been afforded so many opportunities to meet some spectacular women who have had a positive effect on me, both professionally and personally. Just as some have served as a role model for me, I try to be a good role model for others. It is nice to be part of such a positive cycle. For example, I am currently on rotation with the Google-in-Residence program where I am teaching computer science courses at Howard University. Speaking of teaching (shameless plug), you should totally come to my talk next Friday afternoon that I’m giving at Grace Hopper on Test-Driven Development. It’ll be super fun.

What are you looking forward to most at the Grace Hopper Celebration?
Come see us at the Career Fair to find out more about the various types of software engineering roles we have available. It may be a mob scene at the Google booth, but it is my favorite part of the conference because I get to meet a ton of bright, talented women (even some future Googlers!). In fact, that’s one of my favorite things about being at Google.

To follow the fun at Grace Hopper and the lead-up to the celebration, check out Google Students on Google+ and Twitter using our #GoogleGHC14 hashtag! Stay tuned for more GWE spotlights here on our blog!

Posted by Shawn Dye, University Programs Team

Google is excited to announce their presence at the upcoming Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, sponsored by the Anita Borg Institute in Phoenix, Arizona on October 8-10, 2014. Google has been attending the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) f…

From Google Glass to Project Loon, Adwords to Docs, our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects. Interns also work across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to stroll through the blog to check out other interns who have been featured on the blog throughout the summer! Also, our technical internships for summer 2015 are now open! Apply here.

Josep Ballester studies Industrial Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain.

Tell us one fun, outlandish fact about you!
I have a twin brother.

What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
I initially applied for a Google internship because of my love for Google products. I believed that Google would allow me to work on cool things with exceptional people. When the opportunity to intern came, I took it without a doubt.

What team are you working on at Google? Can you provide us with a high-level description of your summer project?
I work on the Small and Medium Businesses (SMB) Services team, helping advertisers improve their businesses. My specific project revolves around improving customer satisfaction.

What’s the best part about working with your team?
They are always easy to work with and we’ve all become good friends.

Outside of being a Google intern, what are some fun things you do outside the classroom/office throughout the year?
I love to travel. It really doesn’t matter where. I just like to learn new things and meet new people. I also really like to ski.

We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other benefits. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
 First, the people. Everyone is super kind and helpful. I also like the fact that interns work right alongside full-time employees.

Best overheard conversation in a MK/cafe/elevator
I once had breakfast next to a Googler I didn’t know and we ended up chatting. A few days later, I found out that he’s an important manager.

What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
Throughout my internship, all of the customers I’ve interacted with have given me positive feedback.

Dream Google office to visit?
Headquarters in Mountain View, California.

What does “being Googley” mean to you?
Being Googley means always thinking about what you can do to improve things. Be involved in what you like and what you do.

If you could give one piece of advice to potential student applicants, what would it be?
First of all, apply! Don’t be afraid and also apply as early as possible. Make sure to prepare for the interviews and don’t forget to be yourself!

Best gFit class?
It’s not a class but having a swimming pool in the office is awesome!

What were your biggest concerns when relocating for the position when it comes to accessibility?
The public transportation and housing accommodations in Dublin. You have to be comfortable in order to work well!

If a student with mobility restrictions were reluctant to consider a position at Google, what would you tell them?
That there’s no need to worry – Googlers are very helpful. Also, Google’s buildings are the most accessible buildings I have ever been in … seriously.

Want to learn more about internships at Google? Check out our Student Careers Site. Additionally, follow Google Students on Google+ and use the hashtag #googleinterns to keep up with Intern Insights this summer.

Posted by Maggie Hohlfeld, University Programs Team

From Google Glass to Project Loon, Adwords to Docs, our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects. Interns also work across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to stroll through the blog to check out other interns who have been featured on the blog throughout the summer! Also, our technical internships for summer 2015 are now open! Apply here.

Tell us one fun, outlandish fact about you!
For a few years during my childhood, I would go to the pet store and buy feeder mice just so I could raise them and give them a life that didn’t involve becoming a snake’s dinner.

What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
I interned at Google in Mountain View during the summer of 2012 and had a good experience. The next summer, I interviewed again for a Google internship. After having a bad experience during the interview that was out of my control, I decided to cut my losses and declined a second interview. I looked for other opportunities after it didn’t work out with Google and ended up receiving a Turing Fellowship for the summer. It allowed me to intern for a startup in NYC and I had a fantastic time. If any advice were to come out of this, it would be to apply for internships as early as possible! Especially if you’re applying for a smaller internship program. The earlier you apply, the more hosts are available for you to potentially match with, and the more buffer time is available should something go wrong along the way.

What has been your path to your current internship at Google?
I was briefly introduced to computer science in high school and thought artificial intelligence was really cool. I decided to become a CS major in college, and then applied for my first Google internship as a freshman on a whim. The summer after my sophomore year, I was awarded a Turing Fellowship and matched with an ed-tech startup in NYC called Knewton. I interned at Knewton for the summer and then stayed on as a part-time software engineer during the school year. I really liked working in the city and wanted to get a taste of a slightly different focus, which is where my current internship on the Cloud team at Google comes in.

What team are you working on at Google? Can you provide us with a high-level description of your summer project?
I’m working on the Google Cloud Platform, specifically within Developer Projects. My main project this summer was to integrate projects so that users can manage their Cloud Projects right from the command line.

Favorite Doogler?
The beautiful Harlow, even though she breaks my heart by living on the other side of the continent in SF.

What’s the best part about working with your manager? What about your team?
My manager, Dave, is really goofy and easy to talk to, and he always has great input. The rest of my team is on the west coast and Google makes it easy to work remotely, so I was lucky enough to spend a few weeks visiting them. They range from sassy to stoic, but each and every one is so kind, approachable, and beyond intelligent, which are invaluable qualities in a co-worker.

Best gFit class?
That’s really tough. I’ve tried the majority of the ones here in NYC, and I have to say the classes I will miss the most are Kerry Ann King’s wacky, yet brilliant themed boot camps, and Stephen Moore’s invigorating yoga.

We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other benefits. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
This internship has been my favorite so far because I’m genuinely happy to go to work everyday. There are two perks that contribute to this: 1) I love my team. I went through a few rounds of host-matching before I found one I thought I’d mesh with, and though it was a bit nerve-wrecking, it made all the difference in my desire to go work each day. 2) The fitness classes are way too good. It’s great to be able to spend an hour a day just clearing my head and then conveniently go right back to work.

What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
I was able to complete my project about a month early and release it to Google users to test. Getting positive feedback and questions about it from other Googlers I didn’t even know was such a good feeling, since it affirmed that my work actually mattered and helped people. I’m excited for it to be publicly available.

Best intern event you’ve attended?
The NYC kick-off summer intern event was a boat cruise. But we were actually on a dock. There was a small boat tied off, but we weren’t allowed on it!

What does “being Googley” mean to you?
To me it simply means being a good person and having a desire to make users’ lives easier.

If you could give one piece of advice to potential student applicants, what would it be?
Practice your technical interview skills! If you know your stuff and can express that eloquently, you’ll kill it.

Want to learn more about internships at Google? Check out our Student Careers Site. Additionally, follow Google Students on Google+ and use the hashtag #googleinterns to keep up with Intern Insights this summer.

Posted by Maggie Hohlfeld, University Programs Team

Chromebooks are college-bound this fall. Introducing the Chromebook Lending Library.

The Chromebook Lending Library is traveling to 12 college campuses across the U.S. loaded with the latest Chromebooks. The Lending Library is a bit like your traditional library, but instead of books, we’re letting students borrow Chromebooks (no library card needed). Students can use a Chromebook during the week for life on campus— whether it’s in class, during an all-nighter, or browsing the internet in their dorm.

Chromebooks are a new type of computer that helps students get things done faster and easier. They have the battery life you need to study all night and are light enough to slip easily into a bag or backpack. With Google Maps, Drive, and Gmail, important information is stored in the cloud, so students no longer need to worry about losing documents, pics, music, and more. The days of losing a paper are over!

We hope you can swing by the Chromebook Lending Library for a little study break this fall. Check out chromebook.com/forcollege for all the details and spread the word with #ChromebookforCollege. And if the tour isn’t hitting your campus this fall, you can follow along on Twitter and Google+.

From Google Glass to Project Loon, Adwords to Docs, our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects. Interns also work across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to stroll through the blog to check out other interns who have been featured on the blog throughout the summer! Also, our technical internships for summer 2015 are now open! Apply here.

Alice is a rising junior at the University of Chicago majoring in Computer Science and Economics. Her hometown is Rockville, MD!

Tell us one fun, outlandish fact about you!
In the fifth grade, I won a pie on Pi Day for reciting one hundred digits of Pi.

What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
The Summer Trainee Engineering Program (STEP) internship in EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) was a great option for me, as it’s targeted at underclassmen seeking industry exposure to tech. Working in Zurich has been an invaluable learning experience – it’s shown me just how much international collaboration goes into so many of my favorite Google products. Not to mention, the “Zoogle” office itself is just plain crazy and fun.

For such a large, multinational corporation, I’ve found that Google does a surprisingly good job at retaining a startup-like culture. Googlers are constantly working on new and innovative projects (Google Fiber! Project Loon!), and they’re encouraged to pursue ideas that are different and wacky because you never know what might lead to something awesome. Moreover, I’m incredibly appreciative of the fact that Google is spearheading the diversity in tech movement through initiatives, such as Made with Code.

What team are you working on at Google? Can you provide us with a high-level description of your summer project?
I’m working with YouTube MDx (Multi-Device Experience) here at Google. We strive to make the YouTube viewing experience available across a variety of device platforms. For my project, I am making the multi-user experience on YouTube TV more engaging and social by delivering specific forms of visual feedback in response to user actions.

What’s the best part about working with your manager? What about your team?
My manager, Johnny, is super friendly and supportive. He had a fairly hands-on mentality toward this internship so I didn’t spend excessive amounts of time studying codelabs, but instead was able to pick up the skills I needed by jumping straight into my project. At the same time, he’s a treasure trove of knowledge and is always only a ping away. The level of autonomy and creative flexibility I’ve been given has been highly empowering. I constantly feel like my voice and vision are heard at design meetings and one-on-ones.

On Friday afternoons, right before TGIF, my team always has “video time.” Basically, this involves streaming funny cat videos and movie trailers on the big TV screen in the office. Granted, the unofficial Google motto is “Dogs are cool, cats are evil,” but something about being a YouTuber seems to make one partial to felines…

Outside of being a Google intern, what are some fun things you do outside the classroom/office throughout the year?
I’m really passionate about CS initiatives. At school, I’m currently working with a team to start a UChicago chapter of FEMMES (Females Excelling More in Math, Engineering and Science), which is a Duke-founded program that encourages elementary school girls to engage in STEM. At UChicago, we’re launching FEMMES with the specific mission to target the CS gender gap. We’re currently gearing up for a student-led day-of-coding event for next spring, where we’ll introduce girls from local low-income schools to CS through hands-on activities and mentorship.

Additionally, I’m involved with an entrepreneurship and innovation group called EnvisionDo. Earlier this year, we brought in Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian to speak to the student body about Internet entrepreneurship. Aside from that, you can find me spiriting for our Maroons on the UC Cheer Team!

Best intern event you’ve attended?
The Intern Pub Quiz was great. It took place during the intern summit, when a ton of tech interns from all over EMEA came to Zurich to meet and mingle. We competed in a bunch of kooky categories – what’s that close-up, name that sound, etc. – for three hours! Everyone was yelling and laughing and jumping around by the end. And best of all, my team won! The prize? A swanky Google swag bag … and eternal glory, of course.

We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other benefits. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
I love how laid-back the culture is. At the end of the day, we’re all here for the same reasons: to deliver a great product and make some real change. Like I said, there’s definitely a startup-y feel to Google, yet the systems are incredibly structured and precise, and they teach you a lot about working in a massive codebase. Furthermore, Googlers are really friendly and open to questions. I learn something new every day!

What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
Participating in ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) has been a huge source of enrichment. Ever since coming to Google, I’ve been fairly involved with GWE (Google Women Engineers). Last month, I was even given the opportunity to moderate a panel at the first-ever Zurich women’s summit! It was incredibly empowering to be in a room full of such ambitious, accomplished women. GWE at Zurich have a go-getter “If you can dream it, you can do it” attitude in terms of pitching and planning events, so currently, I’m working on implementing a female mentoring program for Nooglers. It’s crazy to see how much responsibility you’re allowed to take on as an intern. I love that we have the opportunity to make a real, tangible impact.

Best meal at Google so far?
The feta “salad” that started randomly appearing one day was pretty darn incredible. It was basically enormous blocks of feta cheese mixed in with the occasional olive.

Dream Google office to visit?
Krakow. I hear the bathrooms have hot tubs!

What does “being Googley” mean to you?
Being Googley means embracing the spirit of innovation. It means always questioning existing methods and ways of doing things in order to arrive at a brand-new, creative solution. It means keeping an open mind to new ideas and opinions, even when they differ from your own.

If you could give one piece of advice to potential student applicants, what would it be?
Just be yourself. Google celebrates differences, so take whatever makes you special and run with it. Don’t feel like you have to fit into a standardized template for tech. That being said, one concrete piece of advice is to prepare yourself mentally for the interviews. Coding on a whiteboard or over the phone requires a slightly different mentality, so give yourself the best chances possible by doing a few mock interviews in a realistic setting before the real deal.

Want to learn more about internships at Google? Check out our Student Careers Site. Additionally, follow Google Students on Google+ and use the hashtag #googleinterns to keep up with Intern Insights this summer.

Posted by Maggie Hohlfeld, University Programs Team

From Google Glass to Project Loon, Adwords to Docs, our interns have the opportunity to work on some of Google’s most cutting edge and innovative projects. Interns also work across sales and other business functions, bringing a fresh perspective to the work done at Google. To show you just how much of an impact interns make and to highlight their unique experiences, we’re bringing you a special blog series: Google Intern Insights. Make sure to stroll through the blog to check out other interns who have been featured on the blog throughout the summer! Also, our technical internships for summer 2015 are now open! Apply here.

Tell us one fun, outlandish fact about you!
I once started a Facebook post that ended up with 100,000 comments! It went on for several months until the group moderators eventually deleted it.

What inspired you to apply for this internship, and what made Google appealing to you as a potential intern?
In 2011 I was part of the Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI) in Mountain View. We were taught the fundamentals of HTML, CSS, Javascript and App Engine. The experience was amazing and I made tons of lasting friends. Since then, I made a goal for myself that I would do my hardest to try and land an internship position before I finished my undergrad program.

What has been your path to your current internship at Google?
I applied for a Software Engineering Intern position twice before, and was rejected both times. I personally think it was due to my shaky technical knowledge at the time. I was trying to understand the basics of multiple programming languages without ever focusing on a specific language to attain a deeper understanding of it. It’s good to get really in-depth knowledge of at least one language. I also had a couple of personal projects under my belt when I applied the third time, which better demonstrated my strengths to interviewers and recruiters.

What team are you working on at Google? Can you provide us with a high-level description of your summer project?
Throughout the summer, I have been working with the Google+ Platform team on Google Play Services. I had the opportunity to work on improving Application Programming Interfaces (API) for developers so that they could write more integrated and immersive apps. I also had the opportunity to work on Material design, a new look that’s up and coming in Android L.

What’s the best part about working with your manager? What about your team?
The best part about working on my team is the scope of my efforts. Working on Google Play Services means my efforts and work will end up on almost all Android phones around the world. Just knowing that my work over the summer will eventually be on over a billion devices worldwide is truly awesome, and it makes me feel like I’m really making a difference while interning at Google.

We all know Googlers and interns love the food and the other benefits. Outside of some of the well-known perks, what’s your favorite part about working at Google?
The heated toilet seats – seriously!

Best meal at Google so far?
There’s a great sandwich shop on the main campus that gives you a checklist, and you check off which items you want on your sandwich. From things like lettuce and bacon to sriracha sauce and olive oil, the talented chefs create tons of great, tasty sandwiches right in front of you!

What’s something you’ve accomplished during your internship (thus far) that you’re most proud of? Or something you’re looking forward to working on?
I was really excited that I got the chance to work on Material design. I watched it at Google I/O and thought it looked absolutely amazing. Personally, I’m not a designer. But I always give the user experience top priority when I’m working on my own personal projects. While working on Material, I was able to communicate with the design team and gain valuable insight into Google’s design strategy.

Best intern event you’ve attended?
Every summer, all of the Google interns in the Bay Area get together one night for a boat cruise out in the San Francisco Bay. It’s a great night to meet tons of other interns from similar schools and far away countries, working in teams you may not have even known existed. And of course – free food!

What does “being Googley” mean to you?
To me, being Googley means being social and being yourself. There are so many smart people you can meet at Google by just being outgoing and social, and you can easily make a ton of long-lasting friends (especially with other interns!) by just being yourself. Being Googley makes you feel like you’re part of a bigger community outside of the intern class, making a difference in people’s lives and having a great deal of fun while doing so.

If you could give one piece of advice to potential student applicants, what would it be?
While school and education is very important, grades aren’t everything. Having a large set of personal projects you’ve worked on makes you stand out from the rest, and it helps recruiters, potential hosts, and even yourself find out what your interests and strengths are. These sorts of projects stand out more on your resume and can give you a competitive edge for a coveted internship position. Personally, I have a couple of apps available on Google Play, and these gave me opportunities for discussion during the internship host matching process.

Posted by Shawn Dye, University Programs Team

With 2015 scholarship applications opening soon, our Google Scholarships team would like to introduce this year’s Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholars and share some of the positive impact they are making in their communities.

It all started when Dr. Anita Borg attended a technology conference and noticed the small number of women present. After talking with these women, Dr. Borg formed an online community called Systers to help technical women connect with one another. Later, she started the Institute for Women and Technology (now The Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology) and co-founded the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. For the next X years, Dr. Borg became one of the biggest advocates to dismantle the barriers that keep women and minorities from entering the computing and technology fields.

When Google made the diversity of our workforce public this summer, we did it because we believe that the people creating our products and services should be a reflection of the people around the world who use them. That’s also why 10 years ago, we established the Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship, awarding scholarships to women who share Dr. Borg’s passion for technology.

Today we’re congratulating the 78 recipients (PDF) of our 2014 Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship in North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa. They join a host of past scholars, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in academia and industry. For example, Floraine Berthouzoz, a 2010 Scholar, co-founded a nonprofit organization called CS KickStart that encourages incoming undergraduate women entering UC Berkeley to pursue computer science through programming labs, exciting presentations, and field trips. Together with restructuring the intro to computer science class at Berkeley, CS KickStart has increased the percentage of women in the Letters & Sciences CS program from 11 percent in 2010 to 21 percent in 2013.

As our scholars continue to pursue their technical careers, they join a community of women who will continue Anita Borg’s important work to promote and support women in computer science. As part of their scholarship (and in addition to receiving a monetary award), all of our Anita Borg scholars participated in one of the annual Google Scholars’ Retreat at Google in Mountain View, Calif. or Zurich. There, they attended tech talks, networked with other scholars and Googlers, participated in developmental activities and sessions, and brainstormed ways to further promote STEM in their communities. Stay tuned to the Google Student Blog over the course of the academic year to catch up on what these incredible women accomplish over the year.

We will be launching applications for all 2015 university scholarships soon, so look out on the Google Students +Page for the announcement! For more information on all our scholarships, visit the Google Scholarships site.

Posted by Sarah Safir, Student Development Programs