Women’s History Month: A Snapshot of Women in Modeling, Simulation, and Training
Following this year’s Women’s History Month theme, “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations,” let’s celebrate the achievements of women in STEM—specifically in Modeling, Simulation, and Training (MS&T)—who have shaped and continue to shape the field.
From Ada to AI: Women Pioneering Computational Thinking
In the late 1800s, Ada Lovelace laid the groundwork for computing long before the first computers existed. The ADA programming language is named in her honor, but few know that she was also the daughter of poet Lord Byron. In an era where women were discouraged from science and mathematics, Ada saw beyond numbers—she envisioned how machines could manipulate symbols and perform computation, making her the first to theorize the potential of modern programming. She proudly called herself a “poetical scientist.”
Fast forward to today, Radia Perlman, often called the “Mother of the Internet,” developed the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), a breakthrough that allows data to flow seamlessly across networks. In the 1960s, when Radia attended MIT, there was only one women’s dormitory—a stark reminder of the barriers women faced. Her early research in Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs), which bridge physical and digital interactions, has shaped collaborative design, education, and simulation environments—a field central to MS&T today.
Breaking Barriers in Space and Simulation
Mary Jackson, NASA’s first Black female engineer, shattered racial and gender barriers, contributing to aerodynamics research that advanced both the Mercury and Apollo missions. She helped open doors for women in aerospace, proving that talent—not gender—should determine success.
Today, Dr. Aprille Ericsson continues that legacy. As the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University, she has played a critical role in satellite and telescope development, pushing the boundaries of space exploration.
The Women Who Built the Internet and Shaped Cyber Simulations
While not directly in M&S, Dr. Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler was instrumental in early network modeling. Her work on ARPANET, the precursor to the internet, helped create the hierarchical domain naming system (DNS)—paving the way for today’s cybersecurity simulations and digital war-gaming in military applications.
The Future of Women in MS&T
From Ada Lovelace’s visionary ideas to modern simulation-based problem-solving, women have been at the forefront of technological breakthroughs. And we are just getting started. Women continue to push past barriers—whether societal, technological, or imaginary—proving that the limits of what can be accomplished are still being written.
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/03/radia-perlman-dont-call-me-the-mother-of-the-internet/284146/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace#
