So it is Ada Lovelace day and I am inspired to write my very first blog and I think it is fitting it should be on a day that is to commemorate women in science and technology. For those who are still in the dark about who Ada was then please go to http://findingada.com
Men dominate the world of science and technology, yet women are more than capable of doing the same job, in some cases better. There are many reasons but one of the key areas for young women and girls is the lack of visible role models. But could there have been a more high profile role model than Helen Sharman, for women (and men) across the UK when she was chosen in November 1989 as the first British astronaut to go into space as part of the Juno project? Am I the only one to see the irony of her being plucked from her job with Mars (the confectioner) to be sent into outer space?
As she sat in her primary school in Grenoside, Sheffield in the 60′s I doubt the teacher would have believed her if she had answered “astronaut”, when asked the standard question “what do you want to be when you grow up?” “Don’t be silly dear, wouldn’t you rather be a nurse?”
She beat thousands of other applicants to be the first British person to go into space on 18th May 1991. Nearly twenty years later she is still the only British person to have gone into space. There have been 5 other British born astronauts but all had to change their citizenship to the US for the privilege. Since then she remains a role model for young women and girls and has been involved in a number of science education projects. I’m committed as part of the Geek Girls network to make sure we can inspire young women and girls even at primary school to become involved in technology.
