Hello, my name is Kate and I'm a geek. I've been a geek my whole life - I geek out to literature, Doctor Who, punk rock, Web 2.0 stuff, gadgets (robots in particular) and the idea of passing on geekdom to younger generations.

I was accurately (yet cruelly) labeled "geek" in the seventh grade. While this label seemed to be a social inhibitor throughout much of my young life, as I grew up into the geek woman I now am, I learned that to be geek is empowering. Someone, somewhere said once "the geeks shall inherit the earth."

In the 21st century of emerging technology, truer words have never been spoken. Though it's not quite as liberating as you would think. Mathematics, science and technology are still perceived (erroneously) to be male dominated fields.

Even in the blogosphere the loudest and most notorious "micro celebrities" are usually male. And, when you see women being highlighted for being a notable "geek" it is often in a way which objectifies the woman as a sex object before their intellectual accomplishments.

With all of the misconceptions and misrepresentations of the "geek woman" segment, it probably seems so fragmented that it would appear difficult to pull all those legitimate women together into a group to demonstrate the power of this demographic...

Oh wait! That is happening!

Specifically, it's happening at She's Geeky, the "un-conference" that launched for the first time fall 2007 in Mountain View, California at the Computer History Museum.

Dreamfish CEO, Tiff von Emmel, tags the sense of community a primary value of the un-conference:

"On my journey as a woman and social innovator, I have worked and lived at the edge - the edge of ideas, fields and sectors. This experience of bridging and connecting is more familiar to women. And, in an open source software conference, or in an event for entrepreneurs, I am at the edge as one of the few women in the room...

"...It has been easy to delude myself that I am alone, or to wonder how all this bridging is of value. But, all it has taken is some use of self to reach out and get feedback on the worth of bridging capital and relational knowledge. To get a wake up call, all I have to do is hang out with the Girrrls at She's Geeky."

Termed an "open-space" event by organizer, Kaliya Hamlin, the attendees of this event determine what will be covered in two days of sessions, in addition to having the option of attending several "expert" led sessions ranging from.

Be it to exchange skills or have a forum to discuss issues affecting women in technology specific and related fields - She's Geeky achieves these goals at the directive of the participants - while going further and connecting generations of women working or interested in technology. Be they "those in middle school to pioneers of the industry who may be elders in their 70s."

When asked why she was attending the conference this year, Susan Mernit explains that:

"She's Geeky is a place to build community outside of whatever groups or circles you currently belong to," says Susan Mernit when asked why to attend this year's un-conference.

"The fellowship and connection I experienced with an amazingly diverse--but compatible--group of women--was powerful--and empowering. This is a don't miss conference if you love your computer/are a girl geek/identify with the tech obsessed and with woman-positive energy."

January 30 and 31st women from all walks of geekdom will assemble at the Computer History Museum to learn from each other at the second Bay Area She's Geeky.

Registration is currently open - with an early bird discount available through 15 January. There will be five to six sessions each day; and, on Friday night participants can view the Ada Lovelace movie before heading out to dinner in small groups.

In the spirit of the un-conference, participants are being asked to organize transportation with each other, contribute to a scholarship fund so that unemployed or student geek girls can attend and open their homes to out of town geeks.

It truly is an event which epitomizes in it's organization the unique diversity which encompasses the geek girl community.