Ada Lovelace Day is an annual day in October that celebrates the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It is celebrated on the second Tuesday of October each year. The day is named after Ada Lovelace, who is considered by many to be the world’s first computer programmer. The day’s purpose is to highlight and inspire women’s contributions to STEM fields, and to encourage diversity and gender equality in these areas. Suw Charman-Anderson founded Ada Lovelace Day in 2009, believing that women in tech were under-represented and needed greater visibility.
On Ada Lovelace day, we honour the pioneering contributions of women in computer science, starting with the woman who is widely regarded as the world’s first computer programmer: Ada Lovelace. Born in 1815, Ada worked alongside mathematician Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine, a mechanical general-purpose computer. She foresaw the machine’s potential beyond mere calculation, writing the first algorithm designed for execution on a machine. Ada’s visionary thinking laid the groundwork for modern computing.
While Ada Lovelace was an early trailblazer, the history of women in computer science is filled with incredible figures who shaped the field. During World War II, women like Grace Hopper, played critical roles in programming some of the earliest electronic computers. Hopper not only invented one of the first compilers, but she also popularised the idea of machine-independent programming languages, leading to the development of COBOL, which still impacts business computing today.
In the mid-20th century, computing was often seen as “women’s work,” with women like the six ENIAC programmers—Kay McNulty, Jean Jennings Bartik, Betty Holberton, Marlyn Wescoff, Ruth Teitelbaum, and Frances Spence—writing programs for one of the first digital computers. These pioneering women proved that coding was not only technical but an intellectually demanding skill, though their contributions were overlooked for many years.
As the field evolved, so did its demographics, but women continued to make groundbreaking advancements. From Margaret Hamilton, who led the development of the flight software for NASA’s Apollo missions, to Radia Perlman, whose invention of the spanning tree protocol revolutionised computer networks, women have been at the forefront of innovation.
Today, Ada Lovelace Day serves not only to celebrate these achievements but also to inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers in technology. The field of computer science remains as dynamic and full of opportunity as ever, and the contributions of women—past, present, and future—are essential to shaping its future.
As we honour Ada Lovelace and the many other women who have followed in her footsteps, let’s continue to encourage diversity in technology and support initiatives that help women thrive in STEM fields.
Happy Ada Lovelace Day!
Manli Zhu is an AI Engineer at Merit, developing and delivering AI solutions for all aspects of the business. She did a PhD in Computer Vision and Deep Learning at Northumbria University, specialising in modelling human activities and interactions with interpretable AI. Her research spans multiple disciplines, allowing her to engage in diverse, multidisciplinary fields. She is particularly fascinated by how we perceive and interpret our surroundings in everyday life, and how AI models can be trained to connect with our perceptual experiences, making them more understandable to everyone.
Namra Mahak is an Automation and Front-End Developer at Merit, where she has designed and developed Merit’s first in-house web application, Merit Spark. Originally an architect from India, Namra moved to the UK to pursue her Master’s degree. Prior to her transition into technology, she worked on a variety of projects in architecture and interior design. Her passion for technology eventually led her to programming, where she now focuses on building impactful products that enhance people’s lives. Outside of her professional work, Namra enjoys painting, watching films, and solving crossword puzzles.
Vidushi Badhwar is a Data Engineer at Merit, where she focuses on designing, developing, and managing data solutions within the Azure cloud environment. Her responsibilities include creating scalable data pipelines, optimising cloud infrastructure, and ensuring robust governance of the data systems. With 5 years of experience in the data field, Vidushi has expertise in SQL, Python, PySpark, and Azure. She is passionate about leveraging technology to solve real-world problems. Vidushi’s journey in STEM began early in school, leading her to pursue Engineering during her undergraduate studies. After starting her career as a backend developer in IT, she discovered her passion for data which motivated her to transition into data engineering.
Shambhavee is a Development Project Lead at Merit, where she integrates her architectural background with construction project management to help develop innovative solutions along with fostering teamwork and mentorship by guiding team members as they navigate automation in their roles. Her journey reflects a strong commitment to ongoing learning and development within the construction technology sector and a passion for inspiring more women to pursue careers in STEM fields.