Sue Black (computer scientist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sue Black
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Sue Black in 2012
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Susan Elizabeth Black
1962 (age 62–63) |
| Alma mater | London South Bank University (PhD) |
| Known for | Saving Bletchley Park |
| Awards | John Ivinson Award (2009) |
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| Thesis | Computation of Ripple Effect Measures for Software (2001) |
| Doctoral advisor | Robin Whitty |
Susan Elizabeth Black (born 1962) is a British computer scientist, a teacher at universities, and a social entrepreneur. A social entrepreneur is someone who starts projects to solve social problems. She is famous for helping to save Bletchley Park, a very important place from World War II where secret codes were broken. She did this with her "Saving Bletchley Park" campaign.
Since 2018, she has been a Professor of Computer Science at Durham University. She also works as a "Technology Evangelist," which means she helps people understand and use new technology. Before this, she worked at the University of Westminster and University College London.
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Early Life and Education
Sue Black was born in 1962 in Fareham, a town in Hampshire, England. She left school and her home when she was 16 years old, which was the earliest age allowed by law. She got married at 20 and soon had three children.
After some challenges in her life, Sue and her children needed a safe place to stay. She found help at a local women's refuge. This experience inspired her to make a change. She started taking a maths class at night school. This led her to enroll in a university degree program.
Sue Black earned her first degree in computing from London South Bank University in 1993. Later, in 2001, she completed her PhD (a high-level university degree) in software engineering. Her research was about something called the "ripple effect" in software.
Career and Important Work
Before joining Durham University, Sue Black was the head of a department at the University of Westminster. She also worked as a senior researcher at University College London (UCL). Since 2018, she has been a Professor at Durham University and an honorary professor at UCL.
She was the first person to lead a special group called BCSWomen for the British Computer Society (BCS). She led this group from 2001 to 2008. Sue Black is a strong supporter of women in computing. She encourages more women to work in technology fields.
Saving Bletchley Park
Sue Black led a very successful effort over several years to get money to fix up Bletchley Park. This historic site in the UK was where secret enemy messages were decoded during World War II.
In 2003, she visited Bletchley Park and saw that the buildings were in very bad condition. She also learned that over 10,000 people had worked there during the war, doing incredibly important work. To raise awareness, she started a blog. A picture she shared of one of the huts covered with a blue tarp to protect it helped get many computer scientists interested in helping.
She then used Twitter to reach even more people. The staff at Bletchley Park also used other online tools like Facebook to connect with supporters.
In 2015, Sue Black wrote a book about her journey to save Bletchley Park. It was called Saving Bletchley Park. The book was funded by many people online, making it the fastest crowdfunded book ever.
Techmums Program
Sue Black also created a program called Techmums. This program helps mothers learn about technology. It teaches them about online safety, how to use social media, and even how to code using a language called Python.
The goal of Techmums is to help women feel more confident with technology. It also aims to close the "digital divide" (the gap between those who have access to technology and those who don't). This program helps women gain new skills that can improve their lives. The first Techmums program was held at Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School in London.
Media Appearances
Sue Black has appeared on BBC television and radio. She has also been featured in many newspaper articles. She was interviewed by Jim Al-Khalili for a show called The Life Scientific. She was also a guest on BBC Radio 4's popular show, Desert Island Discs.
Awards and Recognition
Sue Black has received many awards for her work:
- In 2009, she won the first John Ivinson Award from the British Computer Society.
- In 2011, she received the PepsiCo Women's Inspiration Award.
- In 2012, she was named one of Datamation's "10 Women in Tech Who Give Back."
- In 2014, she was one of 30 women featured in a book called "Women in IT: Inspiring the next generation."
- In 2015, Computer Weekly named her the 7th Most Influential Woman in UK IT.
- In 2016, she was given the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This is a special honor from the Queen for her services to technology.
- In 2017, she won the Social Impact Abie Award from AnitaB.org.
Images for kids
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Sue Black in 2012
See also
