The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated annually on February 11. This day was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 to emphasize the importance of equal access for women and girls to scientific and technological fields. The UN recognizes that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are key to achieving sustainable development.
Despite progress in gender equality, women and girls remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). According to UNESCO data, women make up less than 30% of the world’s registered scientists. This day serves to raise awareness of the vital role of women in science and to encourage young girls to pursue scientific careers.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women who have contributed to scientific discoveries and innovations. Historical figures such as Marie Curie, the first female Nobel Prize laureate, Rosalind Franklin, who contributed to the discovery of DNA structure, and Grace Hopper, a pioneer in computer programming, are just a few inspiring examples.
Grace Hopper: A Pioneer of Computer Programming
Grace Brewster Hopper (1906–1992) was an American computer scientist, mathematician, and U.S. Navy Rear Admiral. She was one of the first programmers in history and a pioneer in programming languages. Hopper was the first to develop the theory of machine-independent programming languages, which led to the creation of FLOW-MATIC and later COBOL—one of the first high-level programming languages still in use today.
Before joining the Navy, Hopper earned a Ph.D. in mathematics and mathematical physics from Yale University and taught mathematics at Vassar College. During World War II, she joined the U.S. Naval Reserve and, in 1944, became a member of the team working on the Harvard Mark I computer. In 1949, she joined the Eckert–Mauchly Computer Corporation, where she contributed to the development of the UNIVAC I computer and worked on the first programming language compilers.
Hopper believed that programming should be easier and more understandable through languages based on natural speech. Her work on language syntax and the development of the first compilers led to the creation of COBOL, which became the dominant language in business data processing.
Throughout her career, she worked on standardizing programming languages and implementing them in the U.S. Navy. After retiring in 1986, she became a consultant for Digital Equipment Corporation and lectured on the history of computing at various events.
Hopper is also famous for the story of the first “bug” in a computer. In 1947, her team discovered a moth in the Mark II computer, and its removal was labeled “debugging”—a term that has since become synonymous with fixing errors in computer programs.
Hopper received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded to her posthumously by Barack Obama in 2016. Several technological institutions and devices have been named after her, including the USS Hopper destroyer and the Hopper supercomputer at NERSC.
Supporting Women in Science is Key to an Innovative Future
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science serves as a reminder of the importance of gender equality in the scientific world. Supporting women and girls in STEM fields is not just a matter of fairness but also a key to development and innovative solutions that the future needs. The stories of figures like Grace Hopper show that overcoming obstacles and having the courage to innovate can shape the technological future.