Dorothy Vaughan
NASA leader who mastered computer programming for the space race.
Their Story
Dorothy Vaughan was a mathematician and one of NASA's 'human computers' who became a respected supervisor. When electronic computers arrived, she taught herself and her team the FORTRAN programming language so they could keep contributing. Her story was featured in the book and film 'Hidden Figures.'
Era
1900s
Field
Computer Science
Dorothy Vaughan
NASA leader who mastered computer programming for the space race.
Technology · Computer Science · 1900s · Women in STEM, Black Innovators
Their Story
Dorothy Vaughan was a mathematician and one of NASA's 'human computers' who became a respected supervisor. When electronic computers arrived, she taught herself and her team the FORTRAN programming language so they could keep contributing. Her story was featured in the book and film 'Hidden Figures.'
Key Innovation
Led a team of mathematicians and taught them computer programming as NASA shifted to electronic computers.
Why It Matters Today
She showed how learning new skills, like coding, can keep you valuable as technology changes around you.
Learn More
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Vaughan
Wilkinson STEM Education Foundation · 251 American Innovators · wilkinsonstemfoundation.org
