Pride Month / en Better Together: Elliot Eleos on Pride and the Power of Community /blog/better-together-elliot-eleos-pride-and-power-of-community Better Together: Elliot Eleos on Pride and the Power of Community <span><span lang about="/user/69196" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>emdecker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-06-11T13:21:54-04:00" title="Wednesday, June 11, 2025 - 13:21">June 11, 2025</time><br><br> </span> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/Pride%20Month%202025%20Blog%20-%20Elliot%20Eleos.jpg" width="640" alt="Pride Month 2025 Blog - Elliot Eleos" typeof="foaf:Image"> <p>For Capitol Technology University alum <strong>Elliot Eleos</strong>, Pride Month is more than just a celebration—it’s a reminder of resilience, visibility, and the right to exist authentically in every space, including the world of STEM. A two-time graduate of Capitol Tech, Elliot holds both a Bachelor of Science in Cyber and Information Security and a Master of Research in Cyberpsychology. Today, they use their voice and experiences to advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in tech while building a career as a technical writer.&nbsp;</p> <h3><em>“Pride Month is heavy on my heart,” Elliot said. “There were times I wasn’t allowed to celebrate my identity, and even now, it can feel dangerous. But Pride is about coming together—about honoring what’s been overlooked and fighting for love and autonomy.”&nbsp;</em></h3> <p>As a Capitol student, Elliot found community and purpose through involvement in the Signal-9 competitive cybersecurity team, spending long hours in the Cyber Lab preparing for events like the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (MACCDC) qualifiers. Their strengths in morale-boosting and document-writing turned out to be a natural fit for their career in technical communication.&nbsp;</p> <h3><em>“Capitol gave me a wide range of knowledge in different subsections of cybersecurity,” they said. “It helped me learn to communicate across specialties and explore career paths I genuinely enjoy.”&nbsp;</em></h3> <figure role="group"> <div alt="Elliot Elios graduated with their Master of Research in Cyberpsychology during Capitol's 2025 Commencement / Photo Credit: Juliana Walter" data-embed-button="media_browser" data-entity-embed-display="media_image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="df16b969-294a-4d39-9023-20e9cff44db8" data-langcode="en" title="Elliot Elios graduation photo 2025 Commencement" class="embedded-entity"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/Elliot%20Elios%20Graduating%20from%20Capitol%20Tech%20during%20the%202025%20Commencement_0.jpg" alt="Elliot Elios graduated with their Master of Research in Cyberpsychology during Capitol's 2025 Commencement / Photo Credit: Juliana Walter" title="Elliot Elios graduation photo 2025 Commencement" typeof="foaf:Image"> </div> <figcaption>Elliot Elios graduated with their Master of Research in Cyberpsychology during Capitol's 2025 Commencement / Photo Credit: Juliana Walter</figcaption> </figure> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Navigating the tech industry as a transgender professional hasn’t been without its challenges. Elliot has experienced discrimination, harassment, and missed opportunities, but those experiences have only deepened their commitment to advocacy.&nbsp;</p> <h3><em>“I want queer individuals entering STEM to know they belong,” Elliot said. “They might feel alone at times, but they’re not. And the more of us who show up, the less alone we all are.”&nbsp;</em></h3> <p>Elliot believes that LGBTQ+ representation—and broader diversity across gender, race, and ability—is vital to innovation in tech. “Diversity brings about new perspectives, novel ways to solve problems, and ideas that go against the norm.”&nbsp;</p> <p>For Elliot, Capitol Tech was more than just a place to build professional expertise, but the starting point for a career grounded in communication, advocacy, and authenticity. Their journey shows how identity and education can intersect to drive meaningful change and inspire a more inclusive future in STEM.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Written by Juliana Walter</em></p> Categories: <a href="/blog/category/pride-month" hreflang="en">Pride Month</a> <section id="section-51111" class="section background-white"> <div class="super-contained"> </div> </section> Wed, 11 Jun 2025 17:21:54 +0000 emdecker 12986 at Celebrating the Contributions of the STEM LGBTQIA+ Community /blog/celebrating-contributions-of-stem-lgbtqia-community Celebrating the Contributions of the STEM LGBTQIA+ Community <span><span lang about="/user/69196" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>emdecker</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-06-24T12:59:35-04:00" title="Monday, June 24, 2024 - 12:59">June 24, 2024</time><br><br> </span> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/Pride%20Month%20June%202024.jpeg" width="640" alt="Pride Month June 2024" typeof="foaf:Image"> <p>In STEM fields of study, the LGBTQIA+ community has been longstanding and integral, with groundbreaking contributions that drive innovation forward. LGBTQIA+ individuals have played pivotal roles in advancing knowledge and fostering inclusivity within the science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines, and their perspectives, experiences, and talents enrich these fields in significant ways.&nbsp;</p> <p>LGBTQIA+ scientists and researchers have made groundbreaking discoveries and advancements across various fields. <a href="/blog/celebrating-pride-month-2023-honoring-stem-innovators" target="_blank">Dr. Ben Barres</a>, a transgender neuroscientist, enhanced our understanding of brain development and neurodegenerative diseases, leaving an indelible mark on the field of neuroscience. <a href="https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/people/061821/lgbtq-scientists-through-history" target="_blank">Mark Harrington</a>, a gay member of the AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) Science Club was a strong advocate and voice for research to treat HIV and AIDs. Through their activism, “Harrington and members of the Science Club made a real impact on HIV treatment.” Working to address the pressing social issues that face their community, LGBTQIA+ researchers in interdisciplinary <a href="https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/lgbt" target="_blank">fields like public health and sociology</a> have conducted studies regarding <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9184722/" target="_blank">LGBTQIA+ health disparities</a> over the decades, shedding light on the unique challenges faced by individuals and informing policy and advocacy efforts for equity in healthcare.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>These advocacy efforts have led to tangible changes, such as the establishment of resource centers in academic institutions and workplaces like oSTEM (Out in STEM), a <a href="https://ostem.org/page/about-ostem" target="_blank">professional association with over 100 student chapters</a> at colleges across the U.S. and abroad that empowers members to “achieve success in a safe and supportive environment that celebrates their diversity and unique contributions.” LGBTQIA+ scientists are active members of their communities, providing support, mentorship, and <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)32626-X/abstract" target="_blank">inspiration to fellow LGBTQIA+ individuals</a> pursuing careers in STEM. Through networking events, outreach programs, and visibility campaigns, they have fostered an important sense of belonging and community among LGBTQIA+ STEM professionals, creating spaces where individuals can connect, collaborate, and thrive.&nbsp;</p> <p>Additionally, advocacy has led to the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/05/10/995418963/u-s-will-protect-gay-and-transgender-people-against-discrimination-in-health-car" target="_blank">implementation of inclusive policies</a> such as an update to the Affordable Care Act provision, Section 1557 in April 2024. This provision “is one of the government’s most powerful tools to ensure nondiscriminatory access to health care” and “<a href="https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-finalizes-rule-to-strengthen-affordable-care-act-protections-including-health-coverage-for-lgbtq-americans" target="_blank">now provides clear protections</a> on the basis of sexual orientation and sex characteristics.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Through representation, the LGBTQIA+ community serves as role models and mentors for future generations. Visibility matters, and LGBTQIA+ individuals fight stereotypes and biases and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.&nbsp;</p> <p>The contributions of LGBTQIA+ individuals to STEM are profound and multifaceted. Their work has advanced knowledge, promoted inclusivity, and inspired future generations of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technologists. As we celebrate Pride Month and reflect on the progress made towards equality, we recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions to major fields and innovations. Their voices and perspectives are essential for shaping a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive STEM community for all.&nbsp;</p> <p>Visit <a href="http://www.captechu.edu/" target="_blank">Capitol Technology University’s website</a> to learn more about <a href="/about-capitol" target="_blank">STEM equity</a> and our leading <a href="/fields-of-study" target="_blank">programs in technology, engineering</a>, and more.&nbsp;</p> Categories: <a href="/blog/category/pride-month" hreflang="en">Pride Month</a> <section id="section-48341" class="section background-white"> <div class="super-contained"> </div> </section> Mon, 24 Jun 2024 16:59:35 +0000 emdecker 11826 at Celebrating Pride Month 2023 by Honoring STEM Innovators /blog/celebrating-pride-month-2023-honoring-stem-innovators Celebrating Pride Month 2023 by Honoring STEM Innovators <span><span lang about="/user/68991" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>bcook</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-06-12T13:26:17-04:00" title="Monday, June 12, 2023 - 13:26">June 12, 2023</time><br><br> </span> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/BLOG%20IMAGE%20SIZE%20%2815%29.png" width="640" alt="pride month graphic with rainbow hearts" typeof="foaf:Image"> <p>In celebration of Pride Month, Capitol Technology University is recognizing influential individuals from the LGBTQ+ community who have made significant contributions to STEM. In addition to their professional achievements, they also served or continue to serve as vocal advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion for underrepresented communities.&nbsp;</p> <p>We are honored to share their stories.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>J. Michael Bailey&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>J. Michael Bailey is an openly gay psychologist who is best known for his contributions to the study of human sexuality. His research has made significant advancements in the understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity, specifically through his work on sexual orientation and research on the nature, development, and causes of homosexuality.&nbsp;</p> <p>He is well-known for his book "The Man Who Would Be Queen: The Science of Gender-Bending and Transsexualism," which challenged conventional notions about gender and sexuality and has led to ongoing debates within the scientific community.&nbsp;</p> <p>Bailey is a renowned educator, mentor, and advocate for efforts that raise awareness and provide scientific insights into LGBTQ+ experiences.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sara Josephine Baker&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>A physician and public health pioneer, Sara Josephine Baker made significant contributions to disease prevention and child health in the early 20th century. She revolutionized health care practices by implementing innovative strategies such as hygiene education, maternal and child health clinics, and targeted community outreach. Her efforts led to significant improvements in infant survival rates and helped establish the field of public health nursing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Baker was openly lesbian, and her dedication to improving the well-being of marginalized communities, particularly immigrants and low-income families in New York City, made her a prominent figure in public health and a catalyst for social reform.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Ben Barres&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>A transgender neurobiologist, Ben Barres made significant contributions to the understanding of the nervous system. As the chair of the neurology department at Stanford University, his research focused on glial cells, revealing their importance in brain development and function by better understanding how these cells help neurons mature so they can create the connections that are the basis for learning and memory.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Barres was an unrelenting advocate for gender equality and diversity in academia. His efforts to improve inclusivity and challenge gender biases have left a lasting impact on the scientific and LGBTQ+ communities. In 2013, he became the first openly transgender individual elected to the National Academy of Sciences.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Chanda Prescod-Weinstein&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is a highly regarded theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and social justice advocate. They are known for their groundbreaking contributions to the fields of astrophysics and particle physics, particularly in the study of dark matter and black holes. Prescod-Weinstein's research focuses on understanding the fundamental aspects of the universe, including its origins and composition.&nbsp;</p> <p>As a queer Black woman, they are also a vocal advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity in the sciences, working to address issues of underrepresentation and systemic biases within the field. Through their activism and writings, Prescod-Weinstein has become a prominent figure in promoting social justice in STEM, challenging systemic biases, and striving for a more inclusive scientific community.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sally Ride&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>Sally Ride was an accomplished American astronaut and physicist who made history as the first American woman to travel to space. She joined NASA's astronaut program in 1978 and flew aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1983. As a lesbian woman, her space missions helped pave the way for gender equality and inspired countless women and LGBTQ+ individuals to pursue careers in STEM.&nbsp;</p> <p>Alongside her groundbreaking achievements, Ride was also known for her dedication to science education. After leaving NASA, she focused on promoting science literacy among young people, particularly girls, through her work as a professor, author, and co-founder of Sally Ride Science, an organization that aimed to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Martine Rothblatt&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>A prominent entrepreneur, author, and advocate, Martine Rothblatt is known for her groundbreaking work in biotechnology and telecommunications. She founded Sirius Satellite Radio and United Therapeutics – a biotechnology company focused on developing treatments for rare diseases – and has played a pivotal role in advancing medical research and innovation.&nbsp;</p> <p>A transgender woman, Rothblatt is also known for her activism in promoting transgender rights and advocating for gender identity equality in areas like access to health care and legal recognition.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> Categories: <a href="/blog/category/pride-month" hreflang="en">Pride Month</a> <section id="section-42466" class="section background-white"> <div class="super-contained"> </div> </section> Mon, 12 Jun 2023 17:26:17 +0000 bcook 10181 at Inspiring LGBTQ+ Figures in STEM | Pride Month 2022 /blog/inspiring-lgbtq-figures-stem-pride-month-2022 Inspiring LGBTQ+ Figures in STEM | Pride Month 2022 <span><span lang about="/user/68991" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>bcook</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-06-21T16:31:51-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 21, 2022 - 16:31">June 21, 2022</time><br><br> </span> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/lgbt_tech.jpg" width="504" alt="LGBTQ Pride in STEM" typeof="foaf:Image"> <p>Happy Pride Month! We love to celebrate the&nbsp;LGBTQ+ community all year long, but especially during June, we take time to reflect on some particularly influential LGBTQ+ heroes in the STEM industry. The individuals discussed in this blog have overcome obstacles and adversity in their lives in order to help make the world a better place for others through innovations in science and technology. We are honored to share these small glimpses into their stories.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>1. Mark Harrington</strong></p> <p>A passionate activist and a scientist in his own right, Mark Harrington became a central figure in studies researching treatment for AIDS. While navigating the struggles of living as an HIV positive gay man himself, Harrington worked with the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACTUP) to analyze the biology of HIV, helping to create drug-approved treatments for the disease. According to researcher Elizabeth Stivison of <a href="https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/people/061821/lgbtq-scientists-through-history">asbmb.org</a>, “Members of [ACTUP] attended and spoke at conferences with scientists… Harrington even delivered a speech in which he showed slides of his own infected lymph nodes to illustrate what he thought key areas of research needed to be and what the shortfalls of current research on animals and lab strains of HIV were.” Thanks to Harrington, the Treatment Action Group was founded, and AIDS treatment continues to improve today.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2. Jack Andraka</strong></p> <p>25 year old Marylander Jack Andraka made his mark in medical history when he was just a high school sophomore, inventing a cheap, easy to use device that could detect early stages of pancreatic, and later ovarian and lung, cancer. The device won him the top prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, as well as the Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award.</p> <p>Prior to entering high school, Andraka, faced severe bullying and ostracizing from classmates due to being gay. In an interview with <a href="https://www.ditchthelabel.org/jack-andraka-interview/">Ditchthelabel.org</a>, he recalls his&nbsp;challenging adolescence and how his peers' treatment caused him so much anguish that it nearly drove him to suicide at one point.</p> <p>Andraka, determined to not let the bullies win,&nbsp;poured himself into his scientific&nbsp;research as a mental escape, and by the time he reached high school,&nbsp;he had a wealth of knowledge that led him to the development of&nbsp;his revolutionary&nbsp;medical device.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>3. Alan Turing</strong></p> <p>British cryptographer Alan Turing was a key player in helping the Allied forces rise to victory over the genocidal Nazis during the grim and unrelenting battles of&nbsp;World War II. He was able to develop an electro-mechanical device, known as “The Bombe,” that could decipher German Enigma-machine-encrypted messages, revealing essential information that gave the Allies a distinct advantage in the war.</p> <p>Reporter Jiordan Castle in a <a href="https://www.topcoder.com/blog/8-lgbtq-people-in-stem-to-celebrate-this-pride-month/">Topcoder.com</a> article&nbsp;notes that, “The Bombe was used from the summer of 1940 onward, repeatedly breaking messages for the British and ultimately giving the Allies the advantage they needed to win the war in Europe… Having helped shorten the war by an estimated two to four years, historians believe Turing saved 14 million to 21 million lives.”</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>4. Lynn Conway</strong></p> <p>A dedicated and brilliant computer scientist and electrical engineer, transwoman Lynn Conway helped develop the first superscalar computer, increasing the speed by which the machines could react to and execute inputs. Without her work, modern laptops and computers could not operate at the near instant speed we’ve grown accustomed to. However, IBM fired her when she began the process of transitioning.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.topcoder.com/blog/8-lgbtq-people-in-stem-to-celebrate-this-pride-month/">Topcoder</a> article states, “In an interview, Conway said, ‘When I made the decision to have a gender-correction, everybody told me I was terrible, I was going to end up dead or in an asylum someplace. But they were wrong. I’ve had a great life, I’m very happy, and I’ve managed to do some productive, important work.’”</p> <p>Conway was able to rebuild her career after her firing, reclaiming her accomplishments with time and continuing to make strides for computer technology.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>5. Jemma Redmond</strong></p> <p>Born intersex and infertile, Jemma Redmond worked to create functional, easily-produced&nbsp;3D-printed&nbsp;organs in hopes to one day print functional female reproductive organs for herself. Acquiring her master’s degree in nanobioscience at University College Dublin, Redmond developed her first self-made bioprinter at home, conducting research to create suitable human bone and organ replacements from 3D printers. With the support of her partner, Kay Cairns, Redmond was able to set up a base for potential sustainable, widespread 3D bioprinting in the future.</p> <p><a href="https://cen.acs.org/people/lgbtq-scientist-chemist-history/99/web/2021/06">An article from cen.acs.org</a>&nbsp;explains, “Redmond served as [start up company] Ourobotics’ CEO, and under her leadership, the company developed the first 3D printer capable of using 10 different biomaterials at once. She was also a firm advocate for affordable and open science, and Ourobotics’ second 3D printer was entirely open source—and an order of magnitude cheaper than the first design.”</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>LGBTQ+ people have contributed to the growth and evolution of the STEM industry for far longer than many people may realize, and it's important to share the stories of those who prevailed in the face&nbsp;of adversity. These inspiring individuals are just a small handful of members from the brilliant and vibrant LGBTQ+&nbsp;community that shapes our society.&nbsp;This Pride Month, challenge yourself to discover more about the many science-driven LGBTQ+ people who have influenced the world as we strive to make science and technology a safe and inclusive place for all.</p> <hr> <p>Capitol Tech offers many opportunities in all areas of STEM, from aerospace to technologies to artificial intelligence and much more.&nbsp;To learn more about these programs, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://captechu.edu/" tabindex="-1" target="_blank">captechu.edu</a>&nbsp;and check out the various courses and degrees offered. Many courses are available both on campus and online. For more information, contact&nbsp;<a tabindex="-1" target="_blank">admissions@captechu.edu</a>, for Undergraduate,&nbsp;<a tabindex="-1" target="_blank">gradadmit@captechu.edu</a>&nbsp;for Master's programs, and&nbsp;<a tabindex="-1" target="_blank">doctorate@captechu.edu</a>&nbsp;for Doctoral programs.</p> Categories: <a href="/blog/category/pride-month" hreflang="en">Pride Month</a> <section id="section-36461" class="section background-white"> <div class="super-contained"> </div> </section> Tue, 21 Jun 2022 20:31:51 +0000 bcook 8911 at LGBTQ+ Contributions to STEM /blog/lgbtq-contributions-stem LGBTQ+ Contributions to STEM <span><span lang about="/user/68991" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>bcook</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-06-30T14:14:51-04:00" title="Wednesday, June 30, 2021 - 14:14">June 30, 2021</time><br><br> </span> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/Screen%20Shot%202021-06-30%20at%202.36.21%20PM_0.png" width="640" alt="LGBT pride flag" typeof="foaf:Image"> <p><em>To conclude Pride Month, Capitol Tech is wrapping up our series on influential LGBTQ+ figures in STEM with a summarized compilation of just a few of the contributions the members of the LBGTQ+ community have&nbsp;made to science, technology, engineering, math, and beyond. This post highlights only a handful of&nbsp;inspiring&nbsp;individuals who have made their mark in the STEM field</em>.</p> <hr> <p><strong>Cj Giovingo</strong></p> <p>On February 18, 2021, Cj Giovingo watched the Mars Rover successfully navigate an entry descent and land perfectly on the planet, having survived a trip of nearly 215 million miles. However, unlike nearly every other person on the planet, Cj watched the landing from the control room where they witnessed the success of a mission six years in the making.</p> <p>As a systems engineer and part of the Entry, Descent, and Landing Team at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Giovingo had a personal stake in the Rover’s success. In 2016, as part of the Lesbians Who Tech Summit, they spoke about the mission as well their non-traditional path to becoming a systems engineer on such an important mission.</p> <p>In addition to their work at JPL, they are on the board of an organization called Out for Undergrad, a national non-profit to help high-achieving LGBTQ+ students by putting on industry-specific conferences.</p> <p>Cj graduated from Capitol Tech in 2014 with a bachelor’s in aeronautical engineering. If you want to learn more about Cj, <strong><a href="/blog/alumni-interview-cj-giovingo-part-1">read the two-part Capitology blog interview series.</a></strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Leanne Pittsford</strong></p> <p>Leanne Pittsford is the founder and CEO of Lesbians Who Tech (LWT), a “community of LGBTQ women, non-binary and trans individuals in and around tech (and the people who support them),” as the organization’s website describes.</p> <p>Pittsford founded the organization in 2012 and since then it has grown to a community of 70,000 with representation from over 100 countries world-wide. The LWT website shares that their virtual summits in 2020 featured over 40,000 participants making it not only the largest LGBTQ professional event, but also the largest global event for women in tech.</p> <p>In addition to LWT, Pittsford launched include.io, a mentoring and recruiting platform for underrepresented technologists and recruiters, and Tech Jobs Tour, to help diverse and non-traditional talent connect to the tech companies with job openings.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Megan Smith</strong></p> <p>As if being vice president of Google wasn’t enough of a challenge, Megan Smith became the first woman named United States Chief Technology Officer. Named to the position by Barack Obama in 2014, Smith organized initiatives such as Tech Hire, which focused on expanding tech skills in rural communities, and Computer Science for All, which expanded computer science training in elementary through high schools.</p> <p>While at Google, Smith worked on new business development and later acquisitions such as Google Earth, Google Maps, and Picasa. Prior to her time at Google, she “served as CEO of PlanetOut, a leading LGBT online community in the early days of the web, where the team broke through many barriers and partnered closely with AOL, Yahoo!, MSN, and other major web players,” states her White House staff page.</p> <p>After her work at for the government ended, Smith founded shift7, a company working on solution-making through technology to solve systemic economic, social, and environmental challenges. She is also a co-founder of the Malala Fund.</p> <p>Smith holds a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from MIT, where she completed her master’s thesis work at the MIT Media Lab.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Caitlin Kalinowski</strong></p> <p>If you are one of the many people obsessed with the Oculus line of products, you have Caitlin Kalinowski to thank.</p> <p>As the head of virtual reality (VR) hardware at Facebook, “Caitlin’s team is responsible for the product design and integration of the Oculus Quest, Oculus Go, and Oculus Rift S, as well as the Oculus Link cable,” says her website. She also led the mechanical engineering team that shipped the original Oculus Rift and Touch controllers and worked on the Mac Pro, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.</p> <p>Kalinowski is on the strategic board of Lesbians Who Tech and has a passion for increasing the number of women and minorities in both technology and design.</p> <p>In a blog post from April, Kalinowski wrote that, “Progress is being made, but there is still so much more to be done to level the playing field and ensure that more girls, particularly girls of color, are given the skills and confidence early in their education to succeed in math and science.”</p> <p>Kalinowski holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford.</p> <p>For even more fascinating stories, read Fast Company’s Queer 50 for 2020 and Fast Company’s Queer 50 for 2021, the first-ever list of LGBTQ women and non-binary innovators in business and tech.</p> Categories: <a href="/blog/category/pride-month" hreflang="en">Pride Month</a> <section id="section-31031" class="section background-white"> <div class="super-contained"> </div> </section> Wed, 30 Jun 2021 18:14:51 +0000 bcook 7606 at Alan Turing: Mathematical Genius, Allied Forces Hero, and Pioneer of the Computer Science Industry /blog/alan-turing-mathematical-genius-allied-forces-hero-and-pioneer-of-computer-science-industry Alan Turing: Mathematical Genius, Allied Forces Hero, and Pioneer of the Computer Science Industry <span><span lang about="/user/67246" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype>amschubert</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-06-08T17:39:52-04:00" title="Monday, June 8, 2020 - 17:39">June 8, 2020</time><br><br> </span> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/Alan%20Turing.jpg" width="480" alt="Alan Turing" typeof="foaf:Image"> <p><em><span><span>In an earlier post this week, we explored the basics safety practices of National Safety Month which takes place annually in June. However, another important celebration also takes place this month–Pride Month. So in honor of the important movement celebrated this month, officially penned by Bill Clinton in 1999 in response to&nbsp;the Stonewall Inn protest against police persecution towards members of the lgbtq+ community, we will profile lgbtq+ community intellectual who have made substantial contributions to STEM industries.</span></span></em></p> <p><em><span><span>First on the list of lgbtq+ community members, is Alan Turing–mathematical genius, Allied forces hero, and pioneer of the computer science industry.</span></span></em></p> <p><span><span>Turing, born in London, England in 1912, began his life in highly competitive and lauded institutions of education starting with a private primary school before he attended the King’s College (now University of Cambridge) where he graduated in 1934 with a degree in Mathematics<sub>1,2</sub>. Upon graduation Turing was elected as a fellow at King’s College “in recognition of his research in probability theory” presented in <span><span>a paper he titled “On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the&nbsp;<em>Entscheidungsproblem</em>&nbsp;[&nbsp;</span></span><span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/decision-problem"><span><span>Decision Problem</span></span></a><span>.]</span></span><span><sub>1</sub>” </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The </span><em><span><span>Entscheidungsproblem</span></span></em><span><span>&nbsp;was defined by mathematicians as an “effective” way for “computers” to reliably solve problems–at the time the humans who worked as mathematical clerks to manually solve problems were called computers<sub>1</sub>. Turing’s paper, which explored </span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span>“the fundamental mathematical problem of determining exactly which mathematical statements are provable within a given formal mathematical system and which are not,”&nbsp;</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span>ultimately concluded there were no ways to reliably identify provable or unprovable problems<sub>1</sub>. Alonzo Church, another mathematician who simultaneously published his own paper with the same findings on the <em>Entscheidungsproblem,</em> respected Turing’s genius particularly because Turing’s paper posited that a universal computer machine “has the advantage of making the identification with effectiveness…evident immediately.<sub>1</sub>” Church invited Turing to study under his guidance </span>at Princeton University</span><span><span>, which </span></span><span>Turing accepted and enrolled to earn a PhD in mathematical logic<sub>1,2</sub>.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>The findings Turing and Church found individually created the Church-Turing thesis which denotes “that everything humanly computable can also be computed by the universal Turing machine.<sub>1</sub>” This was the beginning of the Turing machine, which Turing created during WWII after he returned to King’s College to complete his fellowship and enrolled in the Government Code and Cypher School in Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire<sub>1,3</sub>. Here, Turing created more than the breaking the Engima code, he also worked “a method of securely encoding and decoding telephone conversations in 1944” named "Delilah” which was later used for many digitally secure speech concepts, and which was used for the most secretive Allied communications”<sub>3</sub>.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, “by early 1942 the cryptanalysts at Bletchley Park were decoding about 39,000 intercepted messages each month, a figure that rose subsequently to more than 84,000 per month—two messages every minute, day and night.<sub>1</sub>”</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>For his work breaking the previously unbreakable Enigma code, the code German armed forces used to covertly communicate with its allies, Turing was bestowed the title of Officer of&nbsp;</span></span><span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Most-Excellent-Order-of-the-British-Empire"><span><span>the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire</span></span></a><span><sub>1,2</sub>. His work during the war also led to later advancements in Artificial Intelligence and testing AI using the Turing Test, a test to determine if AI is thinking<sub>1,2</sub>.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span>&nbsp;</span></span><span><span><span><span>Once the war had ended, largely in-part to Turing’s efforts, Turing joined London’s National Physical Laboratory with the goal of creating an electronic computer. Turing designed a sophisticated machine, but his colleagues at the Lab had concerns about the engineering efforts necessary to manifest Turing’s machine so a lesser model was developed, costing the Lab the distinction of creating “the world’s first working electronic stored-program digital computer”<sub>1</sub>.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>After this disappointment, Turing moved on to become the Deputy Director of the Computing Machine Laboratory in Manchester where he went on to “design an input-output system,… design its programming system” and write the first programming manual<sub>1</sub>.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Despite his obvious contributions to society, ability to work individually and on a team to further scientific endeavors, and general fellowship, in 1952, only seven years after the war, Turing was convicted of “gross indecency” an antiquated term for people in homosexual relationships2,3,4. Turing, convicted of having a relationship with a 19-year-old man, “was sentenced to 12 months of hormone “therapy” which involved taking harmful pills. It was previously believed that this sentence of “hormone therapy” caused Turing’s death by suicide in which he ate an apply laced with cyanide<sub>2,3,4,6</sub>. Due to this criminal conviction, Turing would be barred from ever working for the </span></span><span>Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)</span><span><span>, despite his enormous contributions to the country and world5,6. Letters from Turing discovered around 2015 reveal this genius’ battle with his sexuality that support the claim that the “hormone therapy” caused Turing to take his life<sub>6</sub>. Though there can be no conclusion on the reason for his death, since he was reported to have no mental ailments at the time of his death and it is plausible he could have accidentally inhaled cyanide from a lab in his house to murder because of his advanced knowledge of cryptology, his sentence and treatment were inhumane<sub>1,6</sub>.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>In 2013 Turing was officially pardoned for his “crime” by Queen Elizabeth II, four years after the British Prime Minister apologized for Turing’s “utterly unfair” treatment<sub>1</sub>. In 2016, Robert Hannigan, the Director of GCHQ, officially apologized for the treatment of Turing and others who identified as LGBTQ+ community members. </span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>"The fact that it was common practice for decades reflected the intolerance of the times and the pressures of the Cold War, but it does not make it any less wrong and we should apologise (sic) for it,” said Hannigan. “Their suffering was our loss, and it was the nation's loss too, because we cannot know what [those] who were dismissed would have gone on to do and achieve. We did not learn our lesson from Turing. It’s vital that we leave no stone unturned to ensure that every single lesbian, gay, bi and trans person feels able to bring their whole self to work and is accepted without exception.<sub>6</sub>"</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span>In addition to his widely-recognized work in computer science, Turing also forwarded the field of morphogenesis, a “process by which multi-celled life develops its shape as it grows.<sub>3</sub>” Turing explored this field in his 1951 paper, titled <em>The Chemical Basis of Morphogenesis,</em> which “explored how non-uniform biological characteristics (like stripes on a zebra) could arise out of a uniform starting state in the womb.<sub>3</sub>” Turing also spearheaded the Chaos Theory, through his extension of morphogenesis into chemistry. Turing noticed that “chemical systems that are otherwise stable become unsettled by diffusion under certain circumstances – in these "reaction-diffusion" systems, diffusion clashes with individual chemical reactions leading to the apparent paradox of the overall system getting more complicated over time.<sub>3</sub>” One of Turing’s most entertainment-based inventions, still based in mathematical properties, was a program he called “Turbochamp”<sub>3</sub>. Turbochamp, stemming from Turing’s work in AI, was the first<span> chess computer program3. You can watch Turbochamp play Turing’s friend, Alick Glennie, <a href="https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1356927">here</a>.</span></span></span></p> <p><span><span>Resources: </span></span></p> <ol> <li><span><span>ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA. (2020). Alan Turing. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alan-Turing">https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alan-Turing</a>.</span></span></li> <li><span><span>Biography. (2019, July 16). Alan Turing Biography. Retrieved from <span><a href="https://www.biography.com/scientist/alan-turing">https://www.biography.com/scientist/alan-turing</a>,</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>Clark, L. &amp; Steadman, I. (2017, June 7). Remembering Alan Turing: from codebreaking to AI, Turing made the world what it is today. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/turing-contributions">https://www.wired.co.uk/article/turing-contributions</a>.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span><span>LiveScience. (2019, July 15). Legendary, Persecuted Code-Breaker Alan Turing Finally Recognized for His Achievements. Retrieved from <a href="https://www.livescience.com/65942-turing-finally-recognized-fifty-pound-note.html">https://www.livescience.com/65942-turing-finally-recognized-fifty-pound-note.html</a>.</span></span></span></li> <li><span><span>The Guardian. (2015, August 22). Letter reveal Alan Turing’s battle with his Sexuality. Retrieved from <span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/23/alan-turing-letters-reveal-battle-sexuality">https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/aug/23/alan-turing-letters-reveal-battle-sexuality</a>.</span></span></span></li> </ol> Categories: <a href="/blog/category/pride-month" hreflang="en">Pride Month</a> <section id="section-24181" class="section background-white"> <div class="super-contained"> </div> </section> Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:39:52 +0000 amschubert 5811 at