20 Annie Easley

Annie Easley

Time period: 1933-2011

Subject: Computer Science

Biography:

Annie Easley was an American computer scientist at NASA who contributed to the code for many projects throughout her career. She was born in 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama, and began her career as a human computer at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the precursor to NASA. She was one of the first African-American women to work at the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio (now the NASA Glenn Research Center).

She analyzed problems and performed calculations by hand, with her early work focused on running simulations for the Plum Brook Reactor Facility. When NASA started using electronic computers for calculations, she adapted to the new technology and became a computer programmer. She wrote code used in research in alternative power technology, including battery technology used in hybrid vehicles and the Centaur upper-stage rocket.

She was also dedicated to promoting gender equality in STEM, participating in NASA’s outreach and school tutoring efforts. Furthermore, she also assumed the role of equal employment opportunity counsellor at NASA, leading the organization in addressing issues of gender, race, and age discrimination.

Easley retired in 1989 and passed away on June 25, 2011.

Summary of their contributions:

Wrote computer programs used in energy and alternative power research at NASA, including battery technology for early hybrid vehicles and the Centaur upper-stage rocket.

Encouraged female and minority students to participate in STEM by participating in NASA outreach and school tutoring efforts.

Promoted gender equality at NASA as an equal employment opportunity counsellor.

Integration with the BC Secondary Science Curriculum:

Computer Science 11:

https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/mathematics/11/computer-science

Annie Easley demonstrated her ability to use and understand the big ideas and curricular competencies of the BC Computer Science 11 curriculum. Her work shows that

• Algorithms are essential in solving problems computationally
• Programming is a tool that allows us to implement computational thinking.
• Solving problems is a creative process.

References:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/annie-easley-computer-scientist