Ada Lovelace Day, otherwise known as ALD, is a celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and math, otherwise known as STEM. It is a holiday celebrated all over the world and is intended to increase the profile of women in STEM so that younger generations of women can have positive role models, as well as celebrate the achievements of women in the past.

Biography of Ada Lovelace

On December 10, 1815, Ada Lovelace was born to Lord Byron and Anne Isabella Milbanke. A month after she was born, her parents separated, and she went to live with her mother.
Anne Milbanke was afraid that Ada would inherit some of the poetic attributes of her father – which she feared was a form of insanity – and decided to give her a thorough education in science, math, and logic.
As a teenager, her talents in mathematics led to a working relationship with mathematician Charles Babbage. Over the years, she helped Babbage develop a device called the Analytical Engine – which is seen as the predecessor of the modern computer.
In 1842, she translated and expanded on an article by an Italian mathematician, which she supplemented with “notes” that elaborated on using the machine for manipulating symbols – what many consider to be the first computer program.
This is why she is often referred to as the first computer programmer. On November 27, 1852, at the age of 36, Ada Lovelace died of uterine cancer. Her notes on the Analytical Engine would inspire many people after her death, most notably Alan Turing, who used them to create the Turing Machine during the 1940s.

History of Ada Lovelace Day

Ada Lovelace Day was created in 2009 by Suw Charman-Anderson to raise the profile of women in science, to give young women positive role models in the area of STEM, and to celebrate the accomplishments of women scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.

Ada Lovelace Customs & Celebrations

Ada Lovelace Day is celebrated in many different ways. On the Internet, there is an ALD Live! event that happens every year and features prominent women with STEM jobs.
Other events include correcting Wikipedia articles about women in STEM, pub quizzes, and conferences. Many different schools all over the world also use the day to talk about women in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Ada Lovelace Day is also a good day for people to learn more about Ada Lovelace or some of the other women in the area of STEM research.