Back in March, we interviewed Sue Black, a Professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University, who told us she believes female role models in the sector aren’t discussed nearly as often as they should be. She gave Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley as an example, and, having been ashamed to admit that I hadn’t heard of her myself at the time, I thought I’d highlight Steve Shirley and a selection of some other inspirational yet criminally under-recognized female computer scientists in modern history, who deserve to be remembered as role models for women in tech today.

Steve Shirley

Starting with Sue Black’s own example, Dame Stephanie ‘Steve’ Shirley arrived in the UK as a child refugee of the Kindertransport in 1939 and went on to found her own software company, Freelance Programmers, in 1962. She adopted the name ‘Steve’ to help her in the male-dominated business world, having found that company letters using her real name were not responded to.

While planning to start a family, she decided to create part-time job opportunities for women with children, and almost exclusively employed women until the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 made this illegal. Among her team’s projects was Concorde’s black box flight recorder.

Shirley retired in 1993 and has since focused on her philanthropy, having set up The Shirley Foundation in 1986, which aims to support medical research in the field of autism spectrum disorders, and is now among the top-50 grant-giving foundations in the UK.

Amongst other honors, Shirley was appointed an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in 1980 for her services to industry, and was also the first female President of the chartered British Computer Society, as well as the UK’s Ambassador for Philanthropy in 2009.

Joan Clarke 

Amongst other campaigns, Professor Sue Black successfully crusaded to crowdfund to restore Bletchley Park, a 19^th-century mansion which was the top-secret center of decrypting enemy messages during World War Two, as featured in the 2014 film The Imitation Game. One of the codebreakers was Joan Clarke, who worked alongside fellow cryptanalyst Alan Turing.

Clarke studied at the University of Cambridge in 1936, achieving a double first degree in mathematics, although she was prevented from receiving a full degree as Cambridge only awarded these to men until 1948. One of her professors at Cambridge noted her mathematical ability and recruited her to the Government Code and Cypher School (GCCS) at Bletchley Park, where she initially undertook clerical work, earning far less than her male counterparts. However, her talents soon shone through and she was promoted to Linguist grade in recognition for her hard work, as there were no protocols in place for a senior female cryptanalyst (despite not knowing another language – much to Clarke’s enjoyment when she filled forms in with ‘grade: linguist, languages: none’).

Working at a time when female cryptanalysts were unheard of, Clarke tirelessly encrypted enemy messages from the German navy in real-time, with her messages resulting in military action being taken almost instantly, therefore saving countless lives from potential U-boat attacks.

Unfortunately, Clarke’s efforts have been almost forgotten by history, in part due to the secrecy surrounding the work at Bletchley Park, and also as Clarke herself never sought the spotlight, although she was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), in 1946 in recognition of her work.

Margaret Hamilton 

Next in our look at amazing female computer scientists you probably haven’t heard of, Margaret Hamilton is one of the first computer software programmers, and is credited with coining the term ‘software engineering’ to describe her work at MIT’s Instrumentation Laboratory.

Hamilton, who studied mathematics at the University of Michigan and Earlham College, graduated in 1958 and first worked as a high school math teacher before joining MIT to work on software to predict the weather. In 1961 Hamilton joined the Lincoln Laboratory at MIT, working on the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) project, the very first US air defense system, in which she created software to help search for unfriendly aircraft.

Her efforts in this project led her to joining the Instrumentation Laboratory, where she led a team credited with developing the in-flight software for the Apollo space program, with Hamilton personally focusing on programming software to detect system errors and recover information in the event of a computer crash. Working at a time when software engineering courses simply didn’t exist, Hamilton and her team had to fix problems on their own, and her work was crucial in making the first moon landing, Apollo 11, possible in 1969. 

Grace Hopper 

Rear Admiral Dr Grace Murray Hopper was one of the most influential computer scientists of all time, famous for her ground-breaking work in developing the first accessible computer programming languages written in English.

Hopper was noted for her curiosity since early childhood, having been caught by her mother dismantling seven alarm clocks to see how they worked (she was limited to one afterwards). She first studied at Vassar College, a liberal arts college, before completing her master’s and PhD in mathematics at Yale University, graduating in 1934.

After the US’ entry into World War Two, Hopper tried to enlist in the navy, but was rejected due to her age and small size. However, she persisted and eventually received a waver in order to join the Women’s Reserve. Her perseverance was also notable in her programming work, as she was told very quickly that her idea for a new programming language using entirely English words couldn’t work because computers didn’t understand English. It took years before her idea was accepted, but she persisted and the COBOL (Common Business Orientated Language) has gone on to become the most widely used business language to date. Amongst other awards, Hopper was granted the Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award in 1964, and has earned the nickname ‘Amazing Grace’.

The ENIAC Women 

Last but not least in our look at female computer scientists who changed the world, the six ‘ENIAC Women’, Fran Bilas, Jean Bartik, Ruth Lichterman, Kay McNulty, Betty Snyder, and Marlyn Wescoff, programmed the first all-electronic, programmable computer, the ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer). The women, who were helped to join the field by the labor shortage at the time, had to learn how to program using only logical diagrams, as no programming languages yet existed.

The women completed the ENIAC in 1945 and it was first put to use in December that year, causing great fanfare with the press, who referred to it as a ‘giant brain’. Sadly, most of the women didn’t receive recognition for their work during their lifetimes, with historians at first mistaking them for ‘Refrigerator Ladies’ (models posing in front of the computer). However, it’s important to recognize that this large, clunky machine was the predecessor of modern general-purpose computers we use on a daily basis today, and we have the ENIAC women, amongst others, to thank.

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Sponsored by emlyon business school

Did you know that more than 2.5 quintillion bytes of data is created every single day? From likes to swipes, streams to clicks, the digital world is exploding with data being produced at speeds once thought impossible.

But what’s actually happening with it? For those in the world of data science and, in particular, digital marketing, it’s a very exciting time. Together these disciplines offer an exciting advantage to businesses and brands, as data science continues to revolutionize the way digital marketing is crafted and implemented.

Interested? You should be. If you’ve got an analytical mindset with an excellent imagination, you may want to consider studying an MSc in Digital Marketing and Data Science, like Fabian Cabrera and Yousra Saddi, two students from emlyon business school. We asked them to share what it’s really like to study this cutting-edge field.

Exposure to the latest innovations and technologies

A LinkedIn survey earlier this year found that most hard skills sought after by companies are related to digital technologies, including UX design, analytical reasoning, cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

To get your head around the inner workings of algorithms, coding, and even machine learning with Python, business schools such as emlyon business school are introducing degrees and modules to help plug this expanding skills and knowledge gap. 

“After graduating from my bachelor’s degree I decided to immerse myself in the programming world using Python as I was really looking forward to acquiring a very technical and specialized knowledge in analytics, machine learning, and data engineering,” said Fabian.  

Their MSc isn’t just about the data though. Yousra told us she valued the importance of studying a degree that offered a more interdisciplinary approach: 

“My decision to pursue my education in digital marketing was in large part the result of my interest in better understanding the factors that make a successful digital marketing plan.

“I was interested in attending a program that stimulates students’ curiosity and interests, as well as going beyond the fundamentals of digital marketing and mixing it with data science.”

Being able to put theory into practice

“As part of our program, we have just started working on an in-company consulting project where we work together in order to handle a mission presented by a company. The purpose of this project is to identify the project scope, deliverables and recommendations,” said Yousra.

From group projects to mini hackathons, experiential learning is a critical element to any curriculum as it allows you to develop your global outlook and strategy – something which Yousra found out when she worked on a mini-hackathon.

She told us: “We went beyond the traditional classroom course and worked on a mini-hackathon with our classmates engaging us in the process of designing innovation. It was quite challenging as we had a limited time to come up with the concept and present it in front of our classmates.

“I was very happy to see that we, as classmates, all put our efforts together to engage the cohort and used the different aspects covered in class.

“Participating in this course and attending the group projects pushed me to gain a deeper understanding of the user experience design. It also helped me adopt a new mindset making the best use of innovation, technology and creativity willing to take the user experience to the next level.”

The international aspect – from Paris to Shanghai to Boston (or San Francisco!)

If studying in both Paris and Shanghai wasn’t enough to whet your wanderlust appetite, you’ll be pleased to learn the MSc in Digital Marketing & Data Science at emlyon business school also offers students the opportunity to spend a week in Boston or San Francisco.

“The Boston learning trip gave us an out-of-class experience where we were exposed to new activities such as travelling, visiting a new city and networking,” said Yousra.

“I had the opportunity to learn about the start-up community and the accelerators concepts. This has also helped me identify fields of work where I potentially see myself in the near future. Sharing this experience with my classmates has also helped me create friendships and enjoyable moments.”

With advances in data science pushing data-driven digital marketing opportunities, being able to understand how the digital industry is shaping and reshaping the ways in which society consumes media and information on a global scale is vital.

You learn from the professionals

Whilst in Boston, Yousra had the opportunity to attend a lecture presented by Yihyun Lim, the Director of the MIT Design Lab.

“We got to deepen our knowledge on the use of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deliver human centered user experiences,” she said.  

Now currently based in Shanghai, Yousra’s global perspective of digital marketing and data science is broadening. She told us: “We have the opportunity to attend classes taught by professionals with a deep understanding of Chinese culture and trends. Thanks to their experience, we are able to get clear examples and cases related to the local market.”

Your professional network will flourish

As well as learning from some of the brightest professionals in the field, both Yousra and Fabian have also been able to build valuable connections within the industry.

Fabian said: “Since the very beginning we have all been exposed to numerous activities and events involving networking not only with startups and big companies, but also with investors, venture capitalists, and other students with entrepreneurial mindsets.

“My network now has connections from Paris, Lyon, Boston, and Shanghai, and I’m really looking forward to connecting with influential people all over the globe.”

The MSc in Digital Marketing & Data Science is an innovative program attracting dynamic individuals from all over the world. So, building a professional network with class colleagues, professors, visiting scholars, and other working professionals will always put you at an advantage.

“I’ve expanded my network and had the opportunity to meet other students. They helped me develop a global mindset and aided me in improving teamwork, and I was also able to interact with leading executives from around the world,” said Yousra.

You’ll develop the skills and expertise necessary to conquer the digital job market

In the future, nine out of 10 jobs will require digital skills. As the digital age continues to grow, so does the demand for a new generation of trained and skilled digital marketing technologists who are digitally and data literate.

If you’re keen to get involved and be a part of a highly lucrative and exciting industry, an MSc in Digital Marketing and Data Science can be the golden ticket.

“The resources the program offers will provide me with a better understanding of the current trends and therefore help me overcome managerial boundaries and optimize my digital marketing strategies. It will, undoubtedly, benefit me not only on an educational and professional level but also on a personal one,” said Yousra.

Jiashin Ling (pictured in the center above) currently studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, specializing in ecology. She recently took advantage of the opportunity to travel to Russia and study at Tomsk State University’s summer school, allowing her to experience a new country and broaden her academic knowledge of ecology and environmental science.

We asked her to share some of her favorite experiences from her time in Russia and explain more about what the summer school program involves.

What attracted you to the summer school program at Tomsk State University?

As someone from a country with a tropical climate, being able to go to the glaciers was a very intriguing and luring idea. The climate, ecology and animals in Russia are very different from what we can see in the tropics and, while my school brings us on field trips to different countries to study, they are mainly in the tropics so we don’t get to learn about temperate zones.

When I heard about the summer school program, I was really excited to visit Russia and see and set foot on the glaciers myself, as well as to learn about the ecology in this area - which carries its own uniqueness and beauty.

Why were you interested in studying in Russia?

The mere idea of going to Russia was exhilarating. It carries so much history and culture that I was really excited to see the country for myself.

Having read about Russia during my studies of international history, I was really interested to see Russia with my own eyes and to build my own impression of the nation by experiencing the place.

What expectations did you have about studying in such an unusual part of the world? What were your first impressions when you arrived?

One thing I expected was that the weather would be really cold since we were heading to the glaciers...but really it was summer weather, and sometimes just as hot as being in Singapore.

Another thing I expected was to be wowed by the differences in culture and environment. Russia was very different from Singapore - there were fewer tall buildings and you could tell the culture of the country from the buildings alone. I really loved being on the streets in Russia, because it was so spacious and you could see the skies clearly. It was also a lot less busy than being in Singapore, which was so different and calming for the mind.

Another expectation I had was the food. Many friends warned me the food in Russia would be very different from what we have in Singapore and that I might not be used to it. However, I really liked the food in Russia, especially kasha (grains cooked in water or milk, like porridge).

The food they prepared for us in Aktru was so homely and comforting that it really made you feel at home!

What was the summer school experience like, both academically and socially? What were your fellow students like?

Academically, the summer school content was very new and more difficult than what we usually learn in Singapore - probably because most of the participants were at graduate level and above. As undergraduates, it was a bit overwhelming at the start, but they were all very open in sharing and teaching us concepts we didn't understand.

Even though it could be difficult at times, I really enjoyed what we were able to learn in the summer school. Socially, I met so many people from different cultures and backgrounds, and it was such a pleasant experience to be able to meet these people. It was such an enriching experience to learn about what they do academically, as well as the culture they come from.

Everyone was so nice, accommodating, helpful and open to share, which made the entire experience in Aktru even better.

What were the most interesting elements of your experience?

I think the most interesting element of my experience was climbing up to the glacier. It was very different from anything else I’ve done in my life, even though I’ve climbed up mountains and volcanoes before. I wasn't very used to climbing on icy terrain, but my fellow students were so helpful in teaching me how to walk and climb. It was an interesting experience that I'll remember for my whole life.

Another thing is that it was very amazing to see how the ecology of the place gradually changes as we climbed to higher elevations. Even though we did learn about the ecological succession in the area, it was completely different to see it with our own eyes. 

One more really interesting element was the banya experience. Even though I had tried onsen in Japan, where everyone shares the same bathroom, banya is so different because it was a sauna and a shower at the same time. I was so shocked and amazed at how there is a culture to jump into the freezing pool after being in the banya. Despite hearing about this before, seeing it with my own eyes was completely different!

What advice would you give to anyone participating in the summer school program at Tomsk State University in the future?

My advice would be to have an open mind and to socialize. Ask questions and talk to people! There's so much you can learn throughout the duration of the program, and you will only be able to learn more by talking to people.

Russia is a place that has a unique culture, so don't shy away from it just because it’s different from what you’re used to. Step out of your comfort zone and treasure every moment you get to spend in this place.

Finally, when they say it will be summer, it really will be, so bring clothes that can withstand very cold situations in the glacier and also clothes that are suitable for warm weather.

You will definitely not regret applying for this summer school program!