Ada Lovelace: Victorian Computing Visionary

In 2009, Suw Charman-Anderson founded of Ada Lovelace Day, an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths. With grassroots events held around the world and thousands of people writing and talking about the women who have inspired them, the day seeks to raise women’s profiles and highlight unsung heroines.

Suw will talk about why there’s a need for such a day, and also about Ada Lovelace herself. Lauded as the first ever computer programmer, Ada was a gifted mathematician, yet today she faces challenges from many voices as to the veracity of her contributions to computer science. So who was Ada? And what do we know about her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine?

Suw is a social technologist and, as one of the UK’s social media pioneers, has worked with clients worldwide. A freelance journalist, she has written about social media and technology for The Guardian, CIO Magazine and others.

Learn more about Ada Lovelace Day, 13 October 2015, at www.findingada.com or follow the team on Twitter at @findingada. Suw’s blog is at www.chocolateandvodka.com and you can follow her on Twitter as @suw.

This is a free event, although donations to help fund Birmingham Skeptics in the Pub events are appreciated. We suggest £2, or whatever you can afford. Seats are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.