Take the quiz here to find out which female computer science pioneer you are!
Katherine Johnson
You are…Katherine Johnson, determined and able to overcome any obstacle that may stand in your way. Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics using computers proved crucial to NASA space missions. As an African-American woman, she encountered discrimination in the workplace, but she succeeded despite the obstacles in her way. She calculated the trajectory for the first American in space, and was featured in the book “Hidden Figures”.
Ada Lovelace
You are…Ada Lovelace, a visionary who applies mathematics to every aspect of life. Ada Lovelace was an English Computer Scientist and Mathematician who is commonly cited as the first computer programmer. She worked on the “Analytical Engine” with Charles Babbage and envisioned a future where machines could process letters and words. A brilliant mathematician and computer scientist, Ada Lovelace has received many honors posthumously.
Hedy Lamarr
You are…Hedy Lamarr, glamourous and eager to support others in their war against injustice. Hedy Lamarr was a famous actress who developed the key to wireless communication. She invented a method of protecting a signal from the Germans during WWII due to her intense hatred for the Nazis, although she was not given the credit she deserved at the time. Later, she was awarded a Pioneer Award by the Electronic Frontier Foundation for her work.
Grace Hopper
You are…Grace Hopper, curious and hopeful about computers’ role in the future. Grace Hopper was an American computer scientist and naval officer who developed the first compiler. She developed the idea of a computer language that was similar to English, although no one believed it could work at the time. They insisted that computers could only understand numbers and that people had to learn computer, but she taught the computers to understand human. Now, her work has lead the way for the computer languages of today, such as Python, C++, and Java.
Quote: “The most damaging phrase in the language is: ‘It’s always been done that way.'”
Margaret Hamilton
You are…Margaret Hamilton, hardworking and prepared for any eventuality. Margaret Hamilton is an American computer scientist and business owner who worked for NASA on Apollo 11. An important failsafe that she developed allowed the moon landing to go according to schedule when an incorrectly-flipped switch nearly lead to the abortion of the mission. She later founded two of her own companies.
Quote: “Looking back, we were the luckiest people in the world. There was no choice but to be pioneers; no time to be beginners.”