Editor’s Note: This is part of a series called Inside the Lab, which gives audiences a first-hand look at the research laboratories at the University of Chicago and the scholars who are tackling some ...

When Anna Otto evangelizes about the power of computer science to transform lives, she’s not just talking as the computer science coordinator for a suburban Colorado district. She’s speaking as a mom.

Computer science involves much more than writing code. It blends technical knowledge —like programming, algorithms and data systems — with soft skills, such as communication and problem-solving.