UCLA scholar of inequality in education one of 100 Angelenos honored in social impact art project by artist Marcus Lyon and The Getty Conservation Institute.
Jane Margolis, UCLA research scientist emerita, has been highlighted in “Alta / A Human Atlas of a City of Angels,” the newest in a series of international social impact art projects by and London-based artist Marcus Lyon and The Getty Conservation Institute. A pioneering scholar focused on systemic segregation and inequality in education, Margolis was selected as one of 100 individuals in Los Angeles County who are creating substantial and positive change. Veronica Terriquez, professor and director of the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center and former staff member of the Institute for Democracy, Education, and Access (IDEA) at SEIS, was also selected for the project.
The four-year project included a year-long nomination process, where a diverse group of Angelenos nominated individuals from their own communities for their significant contributions and service to society. Lyon and his team interviewed and captured portraits of 100 nominees and analyzed their ancestral DNA, casting a light on their origins.
The project charts their lives and impact through a limited-edition portrait book, available in English and Spanish, an exhibition at the L.A. Central Public Library, opening on Jan. 13, 2025, a website, and mobile app. In addition, each of the individuals chosen for the project will be part of an episode on the project’s podcast, “Intersections: Los Angeles”; Margolis’ story will be part of the broadcast on Nov. 12.
Since 1994, Margolis’ work has focused on computer science education as a window into how segregation and inequality get reproduced. She is the lead author of two award-winning books, “Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing” (MIT Press, 2002), which examines the gender gap in computer science at the college level; and “Stuck in the Shallow End: Education, Race, and Computing” (MIT Press, 2008, 2017), which examines the low number of African-Americans, Latinos, and females in computer science at the high school level. Margolis was also the founder and long-time leader of the Computer Science Equity Project at UCLA’s Center X.
Margolis’ most recent book, “Power On!” (MIT Press, 2002) is co-authored with lead author UCLA colleague Jean Ryoo, director of research for the UCLA Computer Science Equity Project. Written and illustrated in the graphic novel format, the book translates issues of segregation in computer science for middle and high school youth. Social Justice Books highlighted “Power On!” as one of its “Favorite New Books in 2022 for Young Adults.”
Margolis has served as a national leader and principal investigator on several major NSF grants focused on democratizing computer science education; she and her team helped build a long-lasting partnership around this issue with the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school district in the country. In 2016, Margolis was honored as an Obama White House Champion of Change for her work in broadening participation in computing.
To view and hear Jane Margolis in “Alta / A Human Atlas of a City of Angels, visit this link.
Listen to the podcast episode featuring Margolis on Nov. 12 by visiting “Intersections: Los Angeles.”
Above: London-based artist Marcus Lyon (at left) featured Jane Margolis, UCLA research scientist emerita, in his latest work, “Alta/A Human Atlas of a City of Angels,” which has been released this month in book form and online.
Jane Margolis, UCLA research scientist emerita, was selected as one of 100 Los Angeles residents who are making positive change for a social impact art project by London-based artist Marcus Lyon and The Getty Conservancy.
All photos by Marcus Lyon/A Human Atlas