The 2017 Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing saw more than 18,000 attendees in its fourth year running — 3,000 more than last year’s celebration. According to Elizabeth Ames (pictured), senior vice president of programs, marketing alliances at the Anita Borg Institute for Women in Technology, the event’s continued growth is likely due in large part to the increased visibility of tech’s diversity issue.“I think it’s really an expression of how this issue has become a big issue,” Ames said in regard to the celebration’s growing popularity. After a year characterized in part by opposition to diversity, those committed to the cause are working even harder to stay the course