Celebrating Ada Lovelace – the worlds’ first computer programmer
Last week, in Ada Lovelace’s honour, a passionate team from AWE welcomed around 70 enthusiastic Year 6 students and their teachers to a STEM event to celebrate science, creativity and resilience.
In the early 19th century, long before the digital age, Ada Lovelace laid the groundwork for modern computing. Born in 1815, Ada was fascinated by mathematics and logic from a young age. Her mentor, Charles Babbage, was designing a mechanical computer called the Analytical Engine, a machine that was never built but was conceptually ahead of its time.
While others saw it as a calculator, Ada saw something more, she imagined computers not just as tools for calculation, but as engines for creativity, capable of composing music, generating art, and more.
In 1843, Ada translated an Italian paper on Babbage’s machine and added her own extensive notes, which turned out to be the first published algorithm intended for a machine. This makes her the world’s first computer programmer, over a century before the first actual computers were built.
Today, Ada is celebrated as a pioneer who saw the future of computing before it existed. Her legacy reminds us all that innovation often comes from seeing beyond what is possible and that imagination is just as vital as logic.
However, Ada wasn’t the only trailblazing woman to be celebrated that day.
The morning began with a presentation on Dame Mary Cartwright, followed by a hands-on activity which was a perfect blend of maths and art.
Next came the Elephant’s Toothpaste experiment, inspired by Katia Krafft, the fearless volcanologist. The girls then built their own seismographs, guided by a talk on Lucy Jones, which included a demonstration of a robotic glove which was a highlight that sparked curiosity and excitement.
In the afternoon, teams of students were challenged to design a rocket capable of reaching Mars, carrying three astronauts. True to real-world project dynamics, the requirements changed mid-build, but the girls adapted brilliantly, showcasing creativity, teamwork, and resilience.
To wrap up the day, Toby from the RaST (Robotics and Smart Technologies) team and his robo-dog made a special appearance. His demo wowed the students, showing how robotics can support our daily work. Judging by the reactions, robo-dog might just be topping a few Christmas wish lists this year!
As robo-dog exited the hall, the AWE team returned to the stage to announce the day’s winners.
The Poster Competition was won by Mia from Theale CofE Primary, Mia created a truly stunning piece of artwork on Katherine Johnson, who while working for NASA was critical to crewed space flight.
The Mars rocket challenge was a tie, with a team from Aldermaston Primary and Fir Tree Primary reaching “Mars”. All winners on the day received a variety of science kits.
But in truth, every girl was a winner. All who attended were inspired, engaged, and excited about the possibilities within STEM.
