STEM SUPERSTAR WOMEN GRACE HOPPER Advancing Computer Science Megan Borgert Spaniol Checkerboard Library An Imprint of Abdo Publishing abdopublishing com
4 1 GRACE HOPPER Mathematician Grace Hopper found her calling during World War II As a member of the US Navy Reserve she programmed computers for use in national defense Later Hopper invented the first computer programming language that used English words She then helped lead the effort to establish a universal computer language Throughout her career Hopper often predicted the future of computers She believed that computers would be useful to everyone not just mathematicians She imagined computers in offices and homes At the time many people thought Hopper's predictions impossible Humans are allergic to change They love to say We've always done it this way I try to fight that Grace Hopper
5 Grace Hopper's nickname in the navy was Amazing Grace Her colleagues greatly admired her skills and witty personality But Hopper was committed to innovation On a wall she hung a clock with hands that moved backwards The clock taught a valuable lesson It was a reminder not to be held back by the way things have been done so far Hopper lived by this lesson She knew that innovation was only limited by one's ability to imagine it
