women in STEM

Who Was Ada Lovelace?

Born in 1815, Augusta Ada Byron, later known as Ada Lovelace, was the daughter of the famous poet Lord Byron and the mathematician Annabella Milbanke. While her father was known for his creativity, it was her mother who steered Ada toward a life of logic and numbers. This combination of imagination and mathematical skill would lead Ada to a remarkable discovery.

As a young woman, Ada was fascinated by machines. When she met Charles Babbage, the inventor of a mechanical general-purpose computer called the Analytical Engine, her interest grew into something revolutionary.

The First Computer Programmer

Babbage had designed the hardware, but it was Ada who saw the potential beyond mere calculation.

In 1843, she translated a scientific paper about the Analytical Engine from French to English, but didn’t stop there. She added her own notes, which ended up being three times longer than the original article. In those notes, she included what many consider to be the first computer program: a detailed algorithm meant to be carried out by the machine.

But her true genius was not just in the programming. Ada understood that this machine could go beyond math. She imagined it composing music, processing language, and manipulating symbols—essentially predicting what computers would do over 100 years later.

Why Ada’s Legacy Matters Today

Ada Lovelace didn’t just write code, she saw the future of computing. She believed that machines could become tools for creativity and problem-solving across all disciplines, not just mathematics.

This is especially relevant today, as we use computers not only for science and technology, but also in art, design, music, and communication. Ada’s vision helps us understand that technology and creativity go hand-in-hand, and that both analytical and imaginative thinking are needed to solve the world’s biggest challenges.

Inspiring the Next Generation

At HLM, we believe stories like Ada Lovelace’s are vital for students. They remind us that big ideas can come from unexpected places. Additionally, Lovelace’s story is a reminder that diverse voices have always played a role in shaping our world.

Today, her legacy inspires students of all genders to explore coding, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving.

Looking Ahead

Ada Lovelace’s story encourages us to think boldly, ask “what if?” and embrace both logic and imagination in our learning journeys.

If your child is curious about coding, STEM, or just enjoys big ideas, now is the perfect time to nurture that interest. At Hodis Learning and Music, we’re here to support every student as they explore the skills and passions that will shape their future. Call us or submit a contact form today to learn more.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re shining a spotlight on the remarkable women who are making strides in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). We sat down with some of our own talented tutors who are actively engaged in these fields to hear their perspectives, challenges, and triumphs.

About Some of Our STEM Tutors

Abby is a math tutor. She attended U.C. Santa Barbara where she received her B.S. in Statistics and Data Science and a B.A. in Feminist Studies. Her goal is to become a high school math teacher.
Amber is a math, biology, and chemistry tutor. During the day, she is a high school STEM teacher. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from USC.

When do you remember first being interested in your subject area?

As long as I can remember! In third grade, I vividly remember being extremely competitive in a multiplication game we would play in class. By the time I was in middle school, I knew I would be majoring in math in college and doing something with it with my career. – Abby S.

I was always very curious about science as a child, but the first time I considered studying engineering in college was during my high school physics class. I fell in love with the subject matter. – Amber H.

What has been your experience as a woman in a STEM field?

Growing up my parents and teachers were extremely supportive and encouraged me to pursue STEM. They had me taking accelerated courses and knew it was something that I excelled at.

It wasn’t until college when I saw a disproportionate number of women in STEM. While majoring in math at UCSB, I did not have a single female professor or TA for the first two years. A few times I felt that I wasn’t taken as seriously by some of the guys in my math courses.

When I switched to data science, to my surprise, I actually found some more women, both students and professors. There was a “Women in STEM” club at UCSB and some scholarships available. – Abby S.

I have been very lucky to have such a positive experience as a woman in STEM. My teachers in middle and high school actively encouraged my interests, which made me feel comfortable in STEM classes. In college, the women in my engineering program definitely looked out for each other. – Amber H.

Do you feel like your experience has changed over time?

I think that over time, the idea of “women in STEM” has been more promoted, but the actual practice still isn’t there – we still see major gender gaps in these careers and fields and gender bias in education and workplaces. I like to believe that the next generation will lessen those.

My personal experience with it has kind of come full circle as I felt encouraged during K-12, felt a bit to the side during college, but am now pursuing my math teaching credential where I hope to encourage all students to move forward with STEM and follow their passions. – Abby S.

In general, I think the tide is changing in the STEM field. For example, USC Viterbi School of Engineering (my alma mater) had an incoming class that was 49% women in 2023!

More women and girls are choosing to go into STEM fields, which means this generation of girls will have more support systems in their education and careers. – Amber H.

Why do you think it’s important for women to continue to pursue careers in STEM?

It is so important! For starters, you can only become what you see is possible so we need women in these positions now to inspire the next generation of girls and so on. Additionally, STEM fields are extremely important in how our world runs so we need diverse people in all of the spaces.

The people making big decisions in workplaces are the people who are then going to be properly represented in society. We need more women, especially more women of color, to be welcomed into these fields so all voices are heard and all people are being taken into consideration. – Abby S.

Women need to be in places where decisions are being made. When women are involved in medicine, chemistry, engineering, etc. our experiences can be reflected in the world around us.

When women are involved in the design process, we can ensure that the medicine we use is tested on bodies similar to ours, or that car crash tests account for differences between male and female bodies. – Amber H.

If there’s one piece of advice you could give to a young girl or woman interested in STEM, what would it be?

Find a female role model to follow and be the next role model for a girl looking up to you. – Abby S.

I would tell any girls or women in STEM fields to reach out to other women in their fields. Having other women around who can support you can make STEM fields less daunting. I relied a lot on the other women in my program for advice or guidance. – Amber H.

Sign Up for Science and Math Tutoring Today!

If your student is struggling in a STEM subject, reach out to start tutoring today. We offer all math and science courses at all grade levels. Learn more or schedule your first session by calling or emailing us today.