Today is Ada Lovelace Day; an international celebration of women’s achievements in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)!
Who is Ada Lovelace?
Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) was an English mathematician and writer; she is widely regarded as a pioneer in computing science. This recognition is due to her work on the Analytic Engine, a mechanical predecessor to modern computers.
Although the machine was conceptualized by Charles Babbage, it was Lovelace who best understood its capabilities. In 1843, Ada Lovelace wrote an acclaimed account of the Analytic Engine for Taylor’s Scientific Memoirs. To demonstrate the Engine’s operation, she wrote an algorithm that calculated Bernoulli numbers; this is considered the first computer program.
The paper also detailed the Analytic Engine’s potential beyond calculating numbers. Ada Lovelace envisioned a machine that could use symbolic logic to process art or music. This foresight marks the fundamental transition from calculation to computation.
To learn more about Ada Lovelace, check out her biography.
Why is Ada Lovelace Day important?
Ada Lovelace Day was founded by Suw Charman-Anderson in 2009; it is annually held on the second Tuesday of October.
The inspiration for Ada Lovelace Day came from Penelope Lockwood’s study on gender-matched role models. The research findings show that women benefit greatly from female role models with a similar career path.
Outstanding women can function as inspirational examples of success, illustrating the kinds of achievements that are possible for women around them. They demonstrate that it is possible to overcome traditional gender barriers, indicating to other women that high levels of success are indeed attainable
— Penelope Lockwood, Psychologist
Suw Charman-Anderson recognized that women were underrepresented in the field of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM). Ada Lovelace Day was launched in an effort to raise the profile of these women. By celebrating women’s achievements in STEM, we hope to create new role models who will inspire girls to pursue STEM careers, and to support women already working in STEM.
Three ways to celebrate Ada Lovelace Day
- Educate yourself on the achievements of historical and contemporary women. From Marie Curie to Annie Easley to Jennifer Doudna, there are accomplished women in all areas of STEM!
- Enrich your technology skills. Have you ever tried writing your own code? Pay a tribute to Ada Lovelace today by finding a tutorial or attending a workshop to develop the skills you need to create a website, game, or app.
- Engage in the conversation. Use the hashtags #ALD22 or #AdaLovelaceDay on social media to promote thoughtful discussion around women in STEM.
How will you be celebrating Ada Lovelace Day?