Important women in stem series#

And without the work of computer scientist Margaret Hamilton, the mission might have failed. In 1969, the Apollo 11 mission put humans on the moon for the first time. But today, Alaina Percival, CEO of Women Who Code, describes the ENIAC programmers as 'pioneers of the tech industry.' Margaret Hamilton Army relied on ENIAC to calculate artillery firing tables.Įach ENIAC programmer could calculate ballistics tables using a differential analyzer and a calculator, skills that made them perfectly suited for the high-stakes job of operating the ENIAC computer.Īt the time, many saw the ENIAC programmers as mere operators. Those six women - Fran Bilas, Betty Jennings, Ruth Lichterman, Kay McNulty, Betty Snyder, and Marlyn Wescoff - manually programmed the ENIAC computer during World War II, providing an invaluable advantage for the Allies during the war. And a team of six women, known as the ENIAC programmers, programmed the first electronic digital computer.

In the 1940s, computer programmers manually moved switches and cables to program a machine in real time. Though she received little recognition for her forward-thinking ideas in the 19th century, today, Lovelace is seen as a central figure in the history of technology.

Important women in stem series#

Lovelace also described the process of looping, or asking a computer to repeat a series of instructions, which modern computer programs still use.

When Babbage developed the Analytical Engine and the Difference Engine - complex calculating machines - Ada published her theory on how codes could instruct the machines. Raised by an aristocratic family who encouraged her interest in science and mathematics, Lovelace befriended Charles Babbage, an inventor and mathematician. The daughter of Lord Byron, Lovelace was raised by her mother, Lady Anne Byron, who left Ada's father just weeks after giving birth in 1815. The innovation earned Lovelace the title of the first computer programmer. 10 Famous Women in STEM Ada Lovelaceĭecades before the invention of the computer, Ada Lovelace created instructions for the first computer program. But whether you're writing a historical essay or biographical piece, you can benefit from learning about the following women and how they helped shape their industry. But with more opportunities than ever to pursue an education in STEM, the number of women in STEM will hopefully increase in the future.Īs a college student, it's likely you may not have heard of some of these pioneering women. Surprisingly, the number of women in tech has declined from its high mark in 1991, when women held over 35% of computing jobs. The Public Ivies, Little Ivies, and Other Ivy League Equivalents.