Women in Engineering

Some of the greatest inventions and engineering marvels have been from women within engineering and science. The internet connection that you are using right now to read this had the foundations laid by Hedy Lamarr.

Hedy Lamarr was an Australian-American inventor who pioneered the technology that served as the basis for Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth communication systems. She invented a method of encrypting signals to prevent enemy spies listening to sensitive information in WW2 which is the underlying method of how we use Wi-Fi today. Not only was she a revolutionary inventor, but she was also a talented actress!

Rockets require an immense number of calculations to ensure that all goes to plan, especially during the time before computers were introduced. Calculations such as trajectories, launch windows, and emergency back-up return paths are just a few examples that Katherine Johnon calculated for NASA missions. Katherine Johnson was also requested by John Glenn (the first American to orbit Earth) to personally check the calculations of the Friendship 7 as she was trusted more than a computer. She also performed calculations for plans for a mission to Mars. 

Women and people from minority groups have always been under-represented within engineering and science. Katherine was an African American living in a time of extreme prejudice. But her determination and hard work proves that anyone with the passion to succeed will do so. Her passion led her to excel in a field dominated by males. Katherine encountered many obstacles because of her race and gender but she believed that anyone with a passion should not be put off by a perception of a profession.