Mane 6 Mark Ada Lovelace Day · 10:31pm Oct 13th, 2015
Today is Ada Lovelace Day, which is the day to celebrate achievements of women, past and present, in science and technology, and thus inspire the next generation. With Sunset Shimmer's help, I sent a set of scientific biographies through a portal into Equestria and asked our favorite ponies to pick a favorite human.
“Ada Lovelace was a brilliant mathematician from the nineteenth century. She worked with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine, an early mechanical computer (never actually constructed). Compiling an algorithm for this machine made her the first computer programmer. She had an amazing mind, a real passion and vision of technology.”
“I really liked to read about Rachel Carson, the biologist who wrote the book Silent Spring, to bring everyone's attention to the problems caused by synthetic pesticides and persuade them to take care of the natural world. She sounds like a really caring, and also a very brave human.”
“I would say Rosalind Franklin was a crystallographer with a unique style and an eye for detail. She interpreted the x-ray diffraction image to understand the double helix structure of DNA.”
“Jacqueline Cochran was awesome! First woman to fly at supersonic speeds, more speed, distance and altitude records than any other pilot, and winning a ton of races and trophies. She was a real daredevil, flying some kick-ass stunts in all sorts of aircraft. And she didn't take any crap from any of the boys.”
“Well ah was mighty impressed reading about 16 year old Ann Makosinski, who invented a flashlight powered by the heat of a human hand. Now that's the sort of down-to-earth invention I like, which is really useful in countries without realiable electricity.”
“My best human has to be Ruth Wakefield, who invented the chocolate chip cookie – best invention ever!”
“We must not forget Marie Curie, the physicist and chemist who pioneered the study of radioactivity, discovering new elements, and overturning established ideas about physics and chemistry. She is one of the most iconic female figures in the history of science.”
At first I wondered where Luna's favorite was, but then I realized it's because she doesn't have an emoticon
Let's try to rectify that:
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"I have chosen Maria Agnesi as my favored human, adept as she was in matters both mathematical and philosophical. She labored so that more might comprehend the secrets of the infinitesimal, from which even the paths of the stars and planets are decided."
Huh. Well, happy Lovelace Day. Nice work with choosing character-appropriate great scientists. (And part of me has to side with Pinkie. Sure, there are a lot of notable figures here, but come on. Chocolate chip cookies.)
Building on the efforrts of Ada Lovelace?
Admiral Grace Hopper. Creator of the first high level programming language for us mere mortals?
Really wish I cold remember, even when Ive heard of such august persons.
Lin Ostrom, Joan Robinson, Princess Yellen....
I can't help but notice that Celly, one of the most obviously immortal beings around, and with a strong tie to the sun (which might or might not be fusion-powered in Equestria), picked Marie Curie, who died an untimely death ... from radiation sickness.