Archive for the 'Computing' Category
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.
Posted July 12, 2006 at 7:46 AM | Tagged as: Computing, Meeeeeeee, Quotations, Technology, Women! | Comments Off
I am a geek, a computer nerd, a technologist, a computer scientist. Since a young age, I’ve been good at tinkering with mechanical and electrical things. I always loved math and computers, writing programs, playing games, and helping people achieve their goals through the use of technology.
I was good at other things too, and when people discouraged me from pursuing my interests in math, science, and technology, I focused on those other things. But, thanks to a liberal arts education (in which I realized my true strengths) and good people who helped reignite my interest in computers, I eventually came back to technology, and have made a career of my passion.
In 2003, just 29 percent of Computer Scientists were female. As Katha Pollitt (and many other feminists) would have me say, my presence here is a victory for the women’s movement!
I will not be scared away by statistics of dwindling numbers of women in the field, or by sluggish job prospects. I will not be intimidated by men in the field, nor will I be swayed by “opt-out feminists” who would want me to believe that my true calling is in the home by my husband’s side. Many women have gone before me, and I will seek to include more young girls and women in the field, and to support them as they traverse this rough and bumpy road.
Posted April 24, 2006 at 2:29 PM | Tagged as: Computing, People I Admire, Women! | Comments Off
Kathleen Mauchly Antonelli (nee McNulty), one of the 6 female programmers of the ENIAC, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2006.
Kathleen McNulty Mauchly Antonelli was one of the six original programmers of the ENIAC machine (the world’s first all-electronic computer), thus making her one of the world’s first programmers. Initially, she was hired by Aberdeen Proving Grounds to be a “Computer” where ballistics trajectory equations were calculated by hand to make firing tables for guns and cannons during World War II. Ms. Antonelli was quickly promoted to working on, and then supervising, these calculations on the Differential Analyzer, an electro-mechanical analog calculating device. With the invention of ENIAC, these computations went from taking 40 hours (by hand), to an hour (by Analyzer), to just mere seconds (by ENIAC) and Ms. Antonelli was recruited into the initial programming team. Without prior training and only schematics to work with, the all-woman team programmed ENIAC. After WWII, she helped some of the world’s leading mathematicians use ENIAC, and helped teach the next generation of computer programmers. In 1997 Antonelli was inducted into the Women In Technology International (WITI) Hall of Fame. Ms. Antonelli received her Bachelors Degree in Mathematics from Chestnut Hill College in 1942.
I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Antonelli at the 2004 Grace Hopper Celebration. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.
Posted April 7, 2006 at 5:58 PM | Tagged as: Computing, Women! | Comments Off
If you’re an ACM member, you know that election season is upon us. It’s time to get out the vote!
Personally, I will be voting for Telle Whitney for President and Wendy Hall for Vice President. I’ve gotten to know both through the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women and Computing event. I can’t help but think that this is exactly the time for a duo such as this; with CS enrollment down overall, but particularly among women, this team will serve not only as role models but also as motivators and drivers for change.
How do I know this? At GHC04, Wendy and I briefly discussed the [snobbish] academic response to Web development as a field of computer science, and she encouraged me to look for ways to change that perception. This GHC, I’ve submitted a proposal to present a sample Intro to CS class that would use Web development as a means for attracting and retaining more students. I hope I have the opportunity to present!
Also during GHC04, I boldly proclaimed to Telle that I wanted to be the webmaster for GHC06. Well, not only has that happened, but Telle and the team at ABI have invited me to get involved in other ways. I couldn’t be more proud to have the opportunity to contribute.
These two women have done exactly what more computer scientists — both female and male — need to be doing. They have stepped up to leadership roles; they understand that they are role models for others; they encourage others to participate and help find solutions to issues; and they give individuals opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways. That’s exactly how we’re doing to regrow the pipeline of students in CS, and that’s why these women are keys to making that happen.
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