Women and science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Women and science - Essay Example Ada Byron of the United Kingdom is hailed as the creator of the world’s first computer software programme. She was born in December 1815 to the famous English poet Lord George Gordon Byron and Lady Annabella Byron. There were 4 momentous events in her life that propelled Ada to scientific distinction.2 The first event was the split up between her parents. Lady Byron legally separated from her husband just 5 weeks after the birth of Ada. The court granted her sole custody of the child. Free from her husband’s influence, Lady Byron {who secretly dreaded that Ada would take up poetry like her father}, encouraged her daughter to become a mathematician and a scientist. The second and third momentous events were the advent of 2 persons into Ada’s life: Mary Somerville and Charles Babbage. Mary was a brilliant woman who translated the works of French mathematician and astronomer Pierre-Simon Laplace. Her translated texts were widely used at Cambridge. Mary motivated 17- year old Ada to study mathematics deeply. Ada met Charles Babbage during a dinner party in 1834. Charles was an English mathematician, philosopher and mechanical engineer. She was very interested in his pet project called the ‘Analytical Engine’ {which turned out to be the predecessor of the modern computer}. Charles’ contention that the Analytical Engine could be made not only to foresee but also act on such foresight ignited a spark in Ada Byron that would precipitate her to scientific fame.