Category Archives: women in technology

Happy Ada Lovelace Day!

Ada Lovelace Day, observed on October 13th, celebrates the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The holiday is about sharing stories of women – computer technologists, engineers, scientists, and mathematicians – who have been inspirational in their fields. The aim of the holiday is to create and encourage new role models for girls in these male-dominated fields by acknowledging the many and varied contributions of women in STEM.

Why is it named after Ada Lovelace? Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) is widely known for writing an algorithm to calculate Bernoulli numbers for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, an early computer that used punch cards for input and output. This algorithm is widely considered to be the first ever computer program, making Ada Lovelace the world’s first computer programmer.

Here are some other interesting facts about Ada Lovelace:

She was the daughter of poet Lord Byron
Her actual married name was Lady Ada King, Countess of Lovelace
Charles Babbage called her “The Enchantress of Numbers”
She was a visionary and predicted that machines like the Analytical Engine could be used to compose music, produce graphics, and be useful for scientific calculations
There is a programming language called Ada, named in her honor
Lovelace’s notes on the Analytical Engine inspired Alan Turing’s work on the first modern computers in the 1940s

Feel free to share stories of women in STEM fields who have inspired you in the comments!

“Sit With Me” Women in Information Technology Reception on March 2

What: Kick-off Reception to celebrate Women’s History Month
When: Monday, March 2, 2015 from 5:30-7:00pm
Where: Sewall Center Arena

Why: Encouraging female participation in Information Technology in participation with sitwithme.org and collaboration with the National Center for Women in Information Technology

Sit With Me invites you to validate and recognize the important role women play in creating future technology by taking a small but symbolic action: sit in a red chair and share your story. Pull up a chair and listen to stories from others; men, women, technical and non-technical, as they sit in the red chair (sitwithme.org).

Guests are welcome to attend the RMU women’s basketball game vs. Wagner College following the event. Freedom Card holders receive free admission. Complimentary tickets are available for off campus guests.

PLEASE RSVP BY FEBRUARY 27 BY CLICKING HERE.

*For additional Information regarding this reception, please contact the office of student life at (412) 397-6489.

Women’s Leadership and Mentorship Program (WLMP) Invites New Members for Fall 2015

The Women’s Leadership and Mentorship Program (WLMP) is ready to invite applications for new cohort members for fall 2015. This program is newly developed and provides leadership opportunities to selected incoming freshmen women. If you are a freshman women (entering Fall 2015) or know of someone who is and might be interested, please see the following for more information about the program:
http://www.rmu.edu/Undergraduate/womenlead

Each woman selected for the program will receive a tuition stipend and study abroad stipend during her senior year. The program involves partnering each woman with an upper-class peer mentor and a faculty mentor to support her during her four years at RMU. WLMP hosts a variety of workshops, training sessions, networking events, and research opportunities for members throughout the year as well.

Take a look at the following video explaining more about the program. The video features faculty mentor Dr. Sushma Mishra from the CIS department, as well as Meghan Riggle, a Cyber Forensics and Information Security major serving as a peer mentor in the program. You will also hear from Cassidy Turner, an Information Systems student currently in the program.