Education has always been one of the major uses of advanced programming languages. However, the impact of declarative techniques is now threatened by multiple forces: the rise of Python, large codebases in conventional languages, the growth of synthesis, and more. This talk will take stock of where we stand, and suggest ways in which programming problems may have finally caught up with where declarative techniques shine. It will also discuss some open problems in programming education that have for too long been overlooked by many segments of the declarative community. Making progress on these challenges can lead to much more widespread use of declarative languages, while failure to do so could lead to fresh bouts of exclusion.

I am the Vice President for Programming Languages at Brown University in Providence, RI, USA. I’m not, really, but that’s what it says on my business card.

I believe tropical fruit are superior to all other kinds. I’d probably rather be out riding a bike up a mountain (slowly). I am terrified of success, because I may be forced to buy a suit. You can learn other things about me from my very serious Web site.

I am also known to interrogate my audiences to ensure they’re paying attention. So, be alert. You can read email later.