Ada Lovelace Day 2012

This page is for reference after the event. The coordination page for the event, including the list of articles to be worked on, is here

It's Ada Lovelace Day on 16 October, and Wikimedia UK are going to get involved! The day exists to celebrate the contributions of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As you may know, Ada Lovelace is considered the first programmer, due to her work on Charles Babbage's analytical engine. As such, she's someone we can very much hold up as a role model. Wikimedia UK is organising a Women in Science themed editing event for Ada Lovelace Day on Friday 19 October 2012 in London.

Basics

• Date: Friday 19 October, in two sessions - 2:30pm-6pm, 6:30pm-8pm
• Venue: The library of the Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace London SW1Y 5AG
• Cost: Free
• Etherpad: http://etherpad.wikimedia.org/Ada
• Twitter hashtag: #WomenSciWP
• Participants: The afternoon session is for Wikipedia newcomers to learn how to edit. Evening panel discussion is open to anyone with the interest in the topic.
• Registration: The places for the editathon are now full (but see online participation). To register for the evening session please see here
• Any questions: Daria Cybulska on daria.cybulskawikimedia.org.uk, 0207 065 0994

We will have an afternoon editathon bringing in new contributors from academia, and some existing volunteers. Female editors are particularly encouraged to attend. It'll be hosted by the Royal Society, who have a very strong history-of-science and biographical library which they'll be making available to us for the day. The Society's library holds a rich collection of printed works about women in science, including biographies and works authored by scientists. At the event the Society's librarians will explain more about the collections and provide guidance on finding sources.

Topics for the editathon

We will pick a "target list" of topics for people to work on beforehand, which will not be a problem as there is lots that could be addressed. Please let us know if you have any suggestion though (some are already on the talk page)

Panel discussion

We will recap the achievements of the editathon and move onto the evening session which will show the wider perspective of the issues around the Ada Lovelace Day. We will have a panel discussion with Uta Frith FRS and other female scientists on women in science. The panel discussion will take place from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. You can register here

Online participation

• Twitter hashtag: #WomenSciWP
• Etherpad: http://etherpad.wikimedia.org/Ada

Venue

• We have a room booked that could host 20 people in cabaret style and 50 in theatre style, located in a beautiful library of the Royal Society
• Most of the materials needed for the editing session should be available at hand. We will also have the staff of the library joining us to support the event and share information
• Wi-Fi and numerous power points provided
• Refreshments provided
• Participants are asked to bring own laptops (not provided at the venue)
• If you are a trainer helping at the editathon, we will provide food as well

Trainers

Please sign up below if you are available to come and assist newcomers in learning to edit.

1. Daria Cybulska (WMUK) (talk)
2. Andrew Gray (talk)
3. KTC (talk)
4. Tom Morris
5. Werespiel if needed
6. Stevie Benton (WMUK) (talk) (for media)

(further event ideas on the discussion page)

Outcomes

Main entry: Wikipedia:WikiProject Women's History/Royal Society

• Press coverage:
  • http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/wikipedia-gets-overdue-makeover-to-give-recognition-to-sciences-female-pioneers-8140122.html
  • http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/wikipedia-edit-a-thon-at-the-l.html
  • We were mentioned at the Finding Ada website
  • And included in the Ada Initiative calendar of events
  • http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19675169
  • http://www.theverge.com/2012/9/24/3384976/royal-society-wikipedia-edit-a-thon-gender-gap (24/9/2012)
  • http://www.themarysue.com/royal-society-wikipedia-edit-a-thon-forfemale-scientists/ (24/9/2012)
  • http://jezebel.com/5945850/where-are-all-the-women-of-wikipedia (25/9/2012)
  • http://alaingerlache.be/post/32253640326/wikipedia-doit-rendre-justice-aux-grandes-femmes-de
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/25/wikipedia-women-female-editors_n_1912895.html (26/9/2012)
  • http://www.dailydot.com/news/wikipedia-royal-society-women-science-editathon/
  • http://www.policymic.com/mobile/articles/16134/the-bias-against-women-in-science-why-women-as-well-as-men-are-at-fault (9/10/2012) touches on the event
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/18/wikipedia-women-science_n_1979237.html (18/10/2012)
  • http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9761000/9761566.stm Interview on BBC News (19/10/2012)
  • http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/oct/19/wikipedia-edit-a-thon-women-scientists (19/10/2012)

• Similar events:
  • Wikipedia:Skrivstuga/Ada Lovelace 2012 (Sweden)