The relationship between women and technology is certainly an interesting topic. Although the field of technology is often considered to be dominated by men, the reality is that many great women have played a major role in shaping the world of technology that we know today.
They not only introduced various important innovations, but also brought new perspectives that encouraged creativity in solving problems. In conjunction with International Women's Day, here are some female figures who made great contributions to the world of technology:
Marie Curie – The First Individual to Win Two Nobel Prizes
Marie Curie was the first individual to win two Noble Prizes. The first time in 1903 in the field of physics for the discovery of radioactive substances and then in 1911 in the field of chemistry for the discovery of polonium and radium using the isotope separation technique she invented herself. In the history of the Nobel Prize, only three other individuals have won it twice besides Curie. She also pioneered portable X-Ray technology that was used in the First World War.
Curie's two victories are amazing because women were not allowed to be members of the French Academy of Sciences. Therefore, Curie was not allowed to present her findings herself and instead had to appoint a male representative. Despite winning the Nobel Prize twice, Curie was never accepted as a member of the French Academy of Sciences until the end of her life in 1934. Membership for women was only opened by the French Academy of Sciences in 1979.
Hedy Lamarr: Pioneer of Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Technology
Hedy Lamarr may be best known as an iconic Hollywood actress in the 1930s and 1940s, but she also made contributions to the field of technology. During World War II, Lamarr collaborated with George Antheil to create the technology of “Frequency Hopping.”
This technology was designed to protect torpedo radio communications from enemy signal interference by exploiting the spread of frequency transmissions in a pattern that appeared random but was actually systematically coordinated.
This discovery became the basis for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Although her patent was obtained in 1942, its use did not become widespread until several decades later. Today, her innovations are the foundation of modern wireless communications such as in smartphones and computers.
Ada Lovelace: The World's First Computer Programmer
Ada Lovelace is known as the first woman to pioneer computer programming. Her contributions not only laid the foundation for modern computing, but also paved the way for various technological innovations.
She played an important role by writing the first algorithm for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. More interestingly, Ada not only wrote the algorithm, but also imagined how the machine could be used for various tasks other than mathematics, such as producing music and art.
The algorithm she created is considered an early step in the history of modern computing. Her creative thinking in the 19th century was ahead of its time and became an important foundation for the advancement of today's technological world.
Grace Hopper: Creator of the First Compiler and First Computer Wizard
If Ada Lovelace is known as a pioneer of computing, Grace Hopper played a major role in making it easier for non-experts to use. Grace Hopper, a computer scientist and admiral of the United States Navy, is famous for creating the first compiler—a tool that translates programming code into machine language.
He also played a key role in the development of the COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) programming language, which was designed to be easier to understand and more suitable for use in business applications. COBOL has become the basis for many global business systems and remains relevant today.
In addition, Hopper coined the term “bug” in software code after discovering a moth among the punched paper used by early computers to write programs. This story took place while his team was using the Mark I computer in 1947. The discovery led them to use the term “debugging” to refer to the process of identifying and correcting errors or problems in programming code. Because of his contributions, NVIDIA named the CPU and GPU used to drive the era of artificial intelligence (AI).
Katherine Johnson: The Human Computer That Sent Astronauts to the Moon
Before hardware, computers were the name given to individuals who performed complex calculations manually using their minds, analog calculators, and logbooks. Katherine Johnson was one of NASA's "human computers" with her ability to perform rapid mathematical calculations that enabled the Mercury, Apollo, and Space Shuttle missions to be carried out successfully.
In addition to rocket launch trajectories, Johnson also calculated return-to-earth trajectories, emergency situations, and safe windows for rocket launches. Before retiring from NASA, Johnson was also involved in planning a mission to Mars. In recognition of her contributions, NASA's Center for Computational Research now bears her name.
Carol Shaw: Pioneer of the Video Game World
Carol Shaw, a key figure in the history of video games, is known as the first woman to be recognized as a video game designer. She began her career as a programmer (coder) at Atari in the late 1970s, producing games such as Polo, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Video Checkers, and Super Breakout. Her contributions not only demonstrated her technical expertise but also successfully broke stereotypes in an industry that was dominated by men at the time.
Emmanuelle Charpentier & Jennifer Doudna: Inventors of CRISPR “DNA Scissors”
Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna are two amazing women who won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. They invented a technology called CRISPR-Cas9, which is a “genetic scissors” for cutting and modifying DNA. This technology opens up huge opportunities in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and genetic research.
CRISPR-Cas9 is seen as having the potential to cure various genetic diseases that were previously thought to have no cure, such as sickle cell anemia and cystic fibrosis. In addition, it has also been used to repair crops to make them more resistant to diseases, insects, and climate change. This innovation offers hope for addressing global challenges such as food shortages and public health.
Charpentier, a microbiologist from France, discovered how this mechanism works in bacteria. Later, she collaborated with Doudna, a biochemist from the United States, to make it a useful tool for scientists around the world.
These women are living proof that their contributions have brought about major changes in the world of technology. Their courage, vision, and innovation have not only sparked revolutions in their respective fields but have also paved the way for many more great achievements in the future of technology. May their stories continue to inspire us to make technology a better tool for the progress and benefit of all. Happy International Women's Day!