Happy Lovelace Day!

No, not that one.

Absolutely not.

Wait...what?

Ah! There we go.

March 24 is Ada Lovelace Day. Who is Ada Lovelace, you ask? Well, that's exactly the point! No one knows! That's why this is the day commemorating the often overlooked contributions of women in science and math. Seriously, how many women scientists do you know? There's Marie Curie, Jane Goodall, ...that lady with the parrot, ...Dana Scully. The sad fact is that is that when I say "scientist" (probably in a spooky voice with a flashlight under my chin) you picture a man. And shame on you for it. There are, of course, a thousand theories on why this is the case but this is the one I like.

It seems that the number of women who choose to pursue careers in science, math and technology (hereafter referred to as 'SM&T') is way lower than the number who graduate with degrees in SM&T. Studies show that women are drawn to learning SM&T, but don't seek out related careers because the gender imbalance makes them uncomfortable. Let that sink in a bit.

Women don't become scientists because there aren't enough women scientists.

Joseph Heller eat your heart out. But there is hope: studies also suggest that women are more likely to become inspired by female role models that break with traditional molds. Ada Lovelace & Co. to the rescue! By drawing awareness to their contributions, we can raise the profile of women in SM&T and provide young girls with a wider pool of role models to draw from. I mean real role models;I'm sure Paleontologist Barbie is doing the best she can, but really; what has she published lately?

Now The Countess Lovelace, on the other hand, was quite accomplished. She started out strong by being the only child of Lord Byron to be legitimate. Impressive enough on it's own, but she didn't stop there. She also wrote the worlds first computer program for Babbage's Engine in 1843. That's right: this chick was coding software a century before computers even existed. And if that wasn't enough she believed that 'Analytical Engines' of the future would be used to compose music and create art. So I guess she was also the first (and as far as I know only) philosopher of theoretical electro-pop. Now if DJ Dr. Ada, Countess of Lovelace isn't someone we need to recognize, I don't know who the hell is.

So please, if you're in a position to influence the course of a young girl's life, don't be shy to expose them to a little science or math. Who knows, they might turn out to be into it. The future they make may be their own.