Posted July 31, 2007 at 1:00 PM | Tagged as: Computing, People I Admire, Women! | Comments Off
The ACM has posted video of Fran Allen’s Turing Award lecture. Go check it out!
Delivered by Frances E. Allen, recipient of ACM’s 2006 A. M. Turing Award, the presentation calls for software systems designers to develop new tools that can improve the performance of computer software.
Allen, the first woman to win the Turing Award, issued the challenge in her Turing Award Lecture, delivered in June at the 2007 FCRC Conference in San Diego, CA.
Ms. Allen received the 2006 A.M. Turing Award for “pioneering contributions to the theory and practice of optimizing compiler techniques that laid the foundation for modern optimizing compilers and automatic parallel execution.” In her Turing Award Lecture presentation, she warns that computer software capabilities have fallen far behind the capabilities of computer hardware, and proposes several approaches to boost the performance of software in the face of the new hardware developments.
Posted July 12, 2007 at 10:12 PM | Tagged as: Bryn Mawr, Computing, Robots | Comments Off
Over at the Institute for Personal Robots in Education Blog Natasha Eilbert summarizes the feedback from the intro CS class taught with robots at Bryn Mawr and Georgia Tech:
The class consisted, in large part, of non-science students, many choosing to take the class incidentally. However, students felt that, through the course, they learned important, basic computer science concepts, such as breaking down a problem and planning out a solution. They got the impression that computer science involves logical thinking, problem-solving, and patience, and they left feeling that computer science was fun (how great!). Most students enjoyed using the interactive, hands-on Scribbler robots, and a number of them even became attached to the life-like creatures. The students did get frustrated with the robots at times, especially over the imprecision of the robots and over hardware issues that were out of the students’ control; at the same time, they learned that it is reasonable that, like humans, robots are not completely perfect. … Happily, most of the students left the class with the feeling that computer programming was important and in some way relevant to their future life, whether in their field of study or in the every day world.
Awesome!
Posted June 29, 2007 at 3:19 PM | Tagged as: Computing, Technology, Women! | Comments Off
The K-12 Informal Education Hub of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), led by the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), is conducting a three-phase study to determine what experiences or factors influence females to pursue a career in information technology (IT). Study results will help guide efforts to increase the number of women entering IT fields. We would appreciate your help in disseminating the survey to as many technical women as possible. Please forward this email to other women you know working in IT.
Take the survey!
Posted June 12, 2007 at 11:50 PM | Tagged as: Computing, People I Admire, Women! | Just 1 Comment
While I was dealing with all sorts of travel problems this past weekend, Telle Whitney was in San Diego to see Fran Allen receive the Turing Award. I hope Telle took pictures, because the ACM still hasn’t learned to use online social networking tools to quickly distribute the media that its members want to see…
However, while I was looking around for photos or video from the awards banquet, I found this Congressional resolution, passed by the House of Representatives on May 1 (how’d I miss this?), which honors:
…the pioneering life work of Frances Allen in computer research and development and salutes the Turing Award Committee for recognizing, through the selection of Frances Allen, that creative women have contributed mightily to the development of this important field.
I’m not sure what made me tear up more: Fran receiving such recognition or the acknowledgment that women have made great contributions to computer science.
Posted February 21, 2007 at 12:10 PM | Tagged as: Computing, Geekout, People I Admire, Technology, Women! | Comments Off
Woo hoo! From the latest ACM Press Release (emphasis mine):
ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery, has named Frances E. Allen the recipient of the 2006 A.M. Turing Award for contributions that fundamentally improved the performance of computer programs in solving problems, and accelerated the use of high performance computing. This award marks the first time that a woman has received this honor. The Turing Award, first presented in 1966, and named for British mathematician Alan M. Turing, is widely considered the “Nobel Prize in Computing.” It carries a $100,000 prize, with financial support provided by Intel Corporation.
Congratulations, Fran! (See my pictures of Fran at GHC 2004.)
Over at USA Today, Kevin Maney has a great article on Fran. He tells her story and comments on the lack of women in technology fields at the same time.
Maney writes, “Allen, now retired from IBM Research, started in computing in 1957 — a time when tech companies, believe it or not, seemed like wide-open and exciting places for women to build careers.” This echoes the sentiments expressed to me by Milly Koss last year, when she told me the story of how she was hired by Eckert-Mauchley just after getting engaged (typically a death knoll for a woman trying to start a career in the 50’s).
I love how Maney confronts the hype around girls and women not being suited for math and science — head on. “First of all, it’s ridiculous to suggest that girls are less predisposed to math and science. Allen is not a freak of nature. Instead, something happened to the technology profession — and to public attitudes about it — to scare off girls.” I couldn’t agree more.
I remember first learning about Fran Allen, back when I was an undergrad. (Deepak encouraged us to learn about the history of computer science and, in particular, about the role of women in its history.) Ever since, she’s been a role model to me, and I know she’s been a role model and mentor to many other women as well. I’m so excited for her to receive this award, not only because it acknowledges her valuable contributions and dedication to the field, but also because it will make her story better known to scores of people (especially young women) considering a career in computing.
