It’s Ada Lovelace Day

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WORKERS are celebrating Ada Lovelace day, a day of remembrance and thanks to a female science and technology pioneer.

Ada Lovelace Day is an annual event that looks to raise the profile of women in technology and asks that supporters tweet, blog, or celebrate women who are IT industry icons.

The day was inspired from a study by psychologist Penelope Lockwood that found that women often do not have the role models that they feel they need to succeed.

She said, "Outstanding women can function as inspirational examples of success, illustrating the kinds of achievements that are possible for women around them. They demonstrate that it is possible to overcome traditional gender barriers, indicating to other women that high levels of success are indeed attainable."

The organisers of Ada Lovelace day ask that anyone interested in supporting the day spread the word about it through social networking and arrange celebratory events.

They suggested that people forward on this message, "Blog about a woman in science, tech, eng or maths whom you admire on Ada Lovelace Day, 7 Oct 11, details: http://findingada.com (@findingada)".

Ada Lovelace translated articles for Babbage's adding machine, and created what has been called the basis for the first ever computing program. She died at 36 following unsuccesful treatment for cancer. µ