Philosophy
Ada Lovelace has emerged as the most popular role model in a day dedicated to celebrating women working in the fields of science and technology.
So far, 2,239 people around the world have posted blogs, videos and podcasts online nominating their heroines.
Additionally, events were held in London, Copenhagen, Dresden, Montreal and Brazil to mark the day, named after Ada Lovelace, held on 24 March.
Ada Lovelace worked with mathematician Charles Babbage in the 1800s.
Mr Babbage's invention, the Analytical Engine, formed the basis of modern computing.
Ada Lovelace is therefore credited with writing the world's first computer program when she came up with a way of using the machine, which was never actually built, to calculate a mathematical sequence known as Bernoulli numbers.
Other nominees included scientist Marie Curie, mathematician-turned-actress Hedy Lamarr, programmer Grace Hopper and Lisbeth Salander, fictional creation of the late author Stieg Larsson.
Wonder women
"For years I've worked in technology, and every time you see a list of the top people in tech, it's dominated by men," said Suw Charman-Anderson, who created Ada Lovelace Day in 2009 and runs the annual event.
"There's always a discussion about where the women in technology are. I thought, I know loads of women in technology. Why are we asking where they are?"
Ms Charman-Anderson invited people to nominate any woman in technology who had been a positive influence or inspiration - including teachers, parents and lecturers.
She chose broadcaster Maggie Philbin as her own role model, having watched her present BBC science programme Tomorrow's World during her teenage years.
"Here was a woman who looked very cool and talked about technology articulately - technology was second nature to her," she told BBC News.
"This was someone who understood what was going on and could communicate very clearly."
“ Having a role model is important, it means you don't question whether you can do something because you can see another woman doing it already ”
Suw Charman-Anderson
Ms Charman-Anderson was one of only two girls in her school year to study maths, physics and chemistry at A-level and now works as a social media consultant.
"Having a role model is important, it means you don't question whether you can do something because you can see another woman doing it already," she said.
Early inspiration
Maggie Philbin told BBC News she was flattered by the nomination, although she had not considered herself to be a role model at the time.
"When I watched Tomorrow's World in the 60s and early 70s, it was just blokes. It was fabulous to watch, but at that stage I never imagined that it would have anything to do with me," she said.
"Look at the archives from the 60s - there are so many references to secretaries. That's what I, as a 10-year-old, was consuming."
Ms Philbin's interest in science was sparked because of an early, and unrealised, ambition to become a vet, she added.
She now credits social media such as Twitter for introducing her to inspirational women such as Ms Charman-Anderson and Dr Sue Black, who orchestrated a social media campaign to save World War II code-breaking centre Bletchley Park.
"These are my role models and technology heroines - they are using technology in a really ambitious and positive way. I'm learning a huge amount from them," she said.
Ada Lovelace [Wikipedia]
Charles Babbage [Wikipdia]
- Ada Lovelace - The Enchantress Of Numbers
Historically, women haven't always had access to formal education because we men are dicks, and we've rationalized our repression of women with the wildest and most inexcusable of excuses. But in those rare cases when individual women have had...
- Deceased--margaret Butler
Margaret Butler March 27th, 1924 to March 8th, 2013 "In memoriam: The remarkable career of Margaret Butler" March 27th, 2013 Argonne National Laboratory Margaret Butler was a pioneering scientist who spent her career at the forefront of the development...
- Titillation And Future Box Office Poison And Failure
Why bother with protesting this Sundance film entry for it may have distribution issues despite the message. "Lovelace: a feminism-free 'feminist' critique of the pornography industry" The biopic of 70s porn star Linda Boreman edits out a crucial...
- Ada Lovelace And Computing
Ada Lovelace December 10th, 1815 to November 27th, 1852 From: San Diego Supercomputer Center "ADA BYRON, COUNTESS OF LOVELACE" Analyst, Metaphysician, and Founder of Scientific Computing Ada Byron was the daughter of a brief marriage between the Romantic...
- "under The Microscope"...venue For Women Science Writers
A new website for female science writers...check it out. "Website for female science writers built" by Alexander Villafania October 28th, 2008 INQUIRER.net Technology giant IBM and women's literary publisher Feminist Press recently switched on a...
Philosophy
Ada Lovelace...who is Ada Lovelace?
"Ada Lovelace voted tech heroine"
by
Zoe Kleinman
March 25th, 2010
BBC News
by
Zoe Kleinman
March 25th, 2010
BBC News
Ada Lovelace has emerged as the most popular role model in a day dedicated to celebrating women working in the fields of science and technology.
So far, 2,239 people around the world have posted blogs, videos and podcasts online nominating their heroines.
Additionally, events were held in London, Copenhagen, Dresden, Montreal and Brazil to mark the day, named after Ada Lovelace, held on 24 March.
Ada Lovelace worked with mathematician Charles Babbage in the 1800s.
Mr Babbage's invention, the Analytical Engine, formed the basis of modern computing.
Ada Lovelace is therefore credited with writing the world's first computer program when she came up with a way of using the machine, which was never actually built, to calculate a mathematical sequence known as Bernoulli numbers.
Other nominees included scientist Marie Curie, mathematician-turned-actress Hedy Lamarr, programmer Grace Hopper and Lisbeth Salander, fictional creation of the late author Stieg Larsson.
Wonder women
"For years I've worked in technology, and every time you see a list of the top people in tech, it's dominated by men," said Suw Charman-Anderson, who created Ada Lovelace Day in 2009 and runs the annual event.
"There's always a discussion about where the women in technology are. I thought, I know loads of women in technology. Why are we asking where they are?"
Ms Charman-Anderson invited people to nominate any woman in technology who had been a positive influence or inspiration - including teachers, parents and lecturers.
She chose broadcaster Maggie Philbin as her own role model, having watched her present BBC science programme Tomorrow's World during her teenage years.
"Here was a woman who looked very cool and talked about technology articulately - technology was second nature to her," she told BBC News.
"This was someone who understood what was going on and could communicate very clearly."
“ Having a role model is important, it means you don't question whether you can do something because you can see another woman doing it already ”
Suw Charman-Anderson
Ms Charman-Anderson was one of only two girls in her school year to study maths, physics and chemistry at A-level and now works as a social media consultant.
"Having a role model is important, it means you don't question whether you can do something because you can see another woman doing it already," she said.
Early inspiration
Maggie Philbin told BBC News she was flattered by the nomination, although she had not considered herself to be a role model at the time.
"When I watched Tomorrow's World in the 60s and early 70s, it was just blokes. It was fabulous to watch, but at that stage I never imagined that it would have anything to do with me," she said.
"Look at the archives from the 60s - there are so many references to secretaries. That's what I, as a 10-year-old, was consuming."
Ms Philbin's interest in science was sparked because of an early, and unrealised, ambition to become a vet, she added.
She now credits social media such as Twitter for introducing her to inspirational women such as Ms Charman-Anderson and Dr Sue Black, who orchestrated a social media campaign to save World War II code-breaking centre Bletchley Park.
"These are my role models and technology heroines - they are using technology in a really ambitious and positive way. I'm learning a huge amount from them," she said.
Ada Lovelace [Wikipedia]
Charles Babbage [Wikipdia]
- Ada Lovelace - The Enchantress Of Numbers
Historically, women haven't always had access to formal education because we men are dicks, and we've rationalized our repression of women with the wildest and most inexcusable of excuses. But in those rare cases when individual women have had...
- Deceased--margaret Butler
Margaret Butler March 27th, 1924 to March 8th, 2013 "In memoriam: The remarkable career of Margaret Butler" March 27th, 2013 Argonne National Laboratory Margaret Butler was a pioneering scientist who spent her career at the forefront of the development...
- Titillation And Future Box Office Poison And Failure
Why bother with protesting this Sundance film entry for it may have distribution issues despite the message. "Lovelace: a feminism-free 'feminist' critique of the pornography industry" The biopic of 70s porn star Linda Boreman edits out a crucial...
- Ada Lovelace And Computing
Ada Lovelace December 10th, 1815 to November 27th, 1852 From: San Diego Supercomputer Center "ADA BYRON, COUNTESS OF LOVELACE" Analyst, Metaphysician, and Founder of Scientific Computing Ada Byron was the daughter of a brief marriage between the Romantic...
- "under The Microscope"...venue For Women Science Writers
A new website for female science writers...check it out. "Website for female science writers built" by Alexander Villafania October 28th, 2008 INQUIRER.net Technology giant IBM and women's literary publisher Feminist Press recently switched on a...