ADA Lovelace Day

ADA Lovelace Day is celebrated on the second Tuesday in October to honor the achievements of women in science, engineering, and mathematics. Established in 2009, this holiday encourages women and girls to pursue careers in STEM fields.

History

Ada Lovelace, born in 1815 as the daughter of the renowned Romantic poet Lord Byron, had the unique opportunity to study science and mathematics. Her mentor was Charles Babbage, the inventor of the mechanical calculator. In 1843, she published what is now recognized as the first algorithm, proposing that computers were capable of much more than basic arithmetic. Babbage famously called her the “Enchantress of Numbers.” Ada Lovelace passed away from uterine cancer at the age of 36.

Sue Charman-Anderson, a technologist, founded Ada Lovelace Day in 2009 to celebrate Ada Lovelace’s legacy and the achievements of other women in STEM. While women earn more than half of all bachelor’s degrees in the U.S., fewer than a quarter pursue jobs in STEM fields.

Interesting Facts

• In 1843, Ada Lovelace published what is considered the first algorithm.
• The U.S. Department of Defense named a computer programming language—Ada—after her in 1980.
• The first Ada Lovelace Day was held on the second Tuesday of October in 2009.

How to Take Part

On this day, you can attend events dedicated to Ada Lovelace, such as lectures and quizzes. Explore stories of other influential women in science who, like Ada, have made significant contributions to their fields. Ada Lovelace Day is also a great opportunity to start learning programming, attend a seminar, or read a book on technology.

When is Ada Lovelace Day in 2025?

Ada Lovelace Day is observed on the second Tuesday in October each year.

Observations