Anita Borg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anita Borg
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| Born |
Anita Borg Naffz
January 17, 1949 |
| Died | April 6, 2003 (aged 54) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | New York University (PhD) |
| Known for | |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Women in computing Human–computer interaction Computer science |
| Institutions | Nixdorf Computer Digital Equipment Corporation Xerox PARC |
| Thesis | Synchronization Efficiency (1981) |
| Doctoral advisor | Robert Dewar Gerald Belpaire |
Anita Borg (January 17, 1949 – April 6, 2003) was an American computer scientist. She is famous for helping women get more involved in technology. Anita worked hard to make sure women had a bigger role in computer science. She started important groups like the Institute for Women and Technology and the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. These groups help women succeed in tech.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Anita Borg Naffz was born in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up in different places, including Palatine, Illinois, Kaneohe, Hawaii, and Mukilteo, Washington. Anita got her first job in computer programming in 1969. Even though she loved math, she didn't plan to work with computers at first. She taught herself how to program while working at an insurance company.
She earned her PhD in Computer Science from New York University in 1981. Her research looked at how computer systems work together efficiently. Sadly, Anita passed away from brain cancer in Sonoma, California, on April 6, 2003.
Career in Computing
After getting her PhD, Anita Borg spent four years building a special computer system. This system was designed to keep working even if parts failed. She worked on this for companies in New Jersey and Germany.
In 1986, Anita joined Digital Equipment Corporation. She worked there for 12 years. During this time, she invented a way to analyze how computer memory systems work. This helped make computers faster. Her work with the Systers email group also led her to study how people communicate online. She created a system called MECCA for online communities.
In 1997, Anita moved to Xerox PARC. There, she continued her research. Soon after, she started the Institute for Women in Technology. She had also co-founded the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing a few years earlier in 1994.
Helping Women in Tech
Anita Borg strongly believed that more women should be in technical jobs. Her big goal was to have 50% women in computing by the year 2020. She wanted tech fields to be places where women were equally represented. She also wanted women to be able to influence and benefit from new technologies.
Systers: A Network for Women
In 1987, Anita started Systers. This was the first email network just for women in technology. She noticed there were very few women at a computer conference she attended. She and other women talked about this problem. They decided to create a private online space.
Systers was a place where women could share advice and support each other. Only women with strong technical skills could join. Discussions mostly focused on technical topics. Anita led Systers until 2000. The group sometimes spoke out on important issues. For example, in 1992, Mattel sold a Barbie doll that said "math class is tough." The protests from the Systers group helped convince Mattel to remove that phrase.
Grace Hopper Celebration
In 1994, Anita Borg and Telle Whitney started the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. They wanted to create a conference for women computer scientists. They planned it from scratch. The first event was held in Washington, D.C., in June 1994. About 500 technical women attended. Today, it's one of the largest gatherings of women in computing.
Institute for Women and Technology
In 1997, Anita founded the Institute for Women and Technology. This organization is now called the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology. Its main goals were to get more women into tech jobs. It also aimed to help women create new technologies. The institute started at Xerox PARC but was an independent group. It ran programs to increase women's role in technology. It also made sure women's ideas were part of new tech developments.
In 2002, Telle Whitney became the head of the institute. In 2003, it was renamed in honor of Anita Borg. Since then, the Anita Borg Institute has grown a lot. It has expanded its programs in the United States and around the world.
Awards and Recognition
Anita Borg received many awards for her work. She was recognized both as a computer scientist and for her efforts to help women in computing.
- In 1995, she received the Augusta Ada Lovelace Award. This award honored her work for women in computing.
- In 1996, she became a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery.
- In 1999, President Bill Clinton appointed her to a special commission. She advised the nation on how to increase women's participation in science and engineering.
- In 2002, she received the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment.
- Also in 2002, she received an honorary degree from Carnegie Mellon University.
Anita also received the EFF Pioneer Award. The Girl Scouts of the USA recognized her work. She was listed among the "Top 100 Women in Computing" by Open Computing Magazine. She also served on important boards and committees related to computing research and women in science.
Legacy
Anita Borg was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1999. She continued to lead the Institute for Women and Technology until 2002. She passed away on April 6, 2003.
In 2003, the Institute for Women and Technology was renamed the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology. This was done to honor her life and work.
Many other awards and programs also remember Anita. Google started the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship in 2004. This scholarship helps women in technology. As of 2017, it's called the Women Techmakers Scholars Program. It now helps women in many countries around the world. The UNSW School of Computer Science and Engineering also offers the Anita Borg Prize.
See also
In Spanish: Anita Borg para niños
