Who says women can’t be computer programmers?

Although her mother tried to steer her towards mathematics and away from following her father, Lord Byron, down the dark path of poetry and imagination, Ada Lovelace found that creativity and logic go well together after all.

Ada grew up to be a mathematician often regarded as the first to recognise the full potential of a “computing machine”, despite her mother, Lady Byron’s, best attempts to prevent her from developing her infamous father’s “insanity”. Despite this strict upbringing, Ada’s creative ambition led to a collaboration with mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage, devising the Analytical Engine, a mechanical general-purpose computer.

Be inspired to look for the role of creativity in STEM. Ask the children about their interests and encourage collaboration. How can you co-construct and revolutionise an idea and take it to new places? Encourage them to find their own strengths and interests, even if they don’t seem compatible at first sight.