Page 60 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 3

STS515 Jim R. et al.
of balance, CB held the most prestigious chair in mathematics in England; AL
was a talented mathematician in her own right. These provide the conflicted
context for AL’s extraordinary insight that a machine could manipulate
arbitrary symbols, and that these arbitrary symbols could refer to anything.
“The distinctive characteristic of the Analytical Engine... the executive right-
hand of abstract algebra... is in this that... [it]... weaves algebraical patterns like
the Jacquard loom weaves flowers and leaves” (Lovelace, 1843, p3).
“Supposing... the science of harmony and musical composition were
susceptible of such expression and adaptations, the engine might compose
elaborate and scientific pieces of music of any degree of complexity or extent.”
(Lovelace, 1843, p2).
• Don’t always believe what your tutors tell you cannot or should not be
done
• Become an excellent mathematician
• Explore the art of the possible
Women’s scope for action in Victorian England was severely limited.
Concerns were raised about the serious dangers to the mental health of both
Mary Somerville (the mathematician after whom Oxford University’s first
college for women was named) – friend and correspondent on things
mathematical with AL – and for AL herself, from studying mathematics to a
high level. AL published just one paper. This paper began with a translation of
Menabrea’s (1842) paper on a talk by (his friend) Babbage in 1840 about the
Analytical Engine. At the time, few women wrote original articles, but DID
occasionally translate and summarise men’s work. Babbage suggested she
write notes on the article (and says she was responsible for “the algebraic
working out of the different problems” (Babbage, 1864, para 136). Babbage
himself published extensively on a wide variety of subjects. He discussed the
Analytical Engine ad nauseam with friends and colleagues, but published little
about it (despite huge volumes of notes and diaries).
• Don’t accept cultural norms that restrict your thoughts and actions
• Publish!
What of the social dimension? CB (and therefore AL) was friendly with
Michael Faraday, Charles Darwin, The Herschels, Mary Somerville, Augustus De
Morgan, Florence Nightingale, Elizabeth Gaskell, Tennison, and the Duke of
Wellington (and sundry other politicians).
• Cultivate smart people from a wide range of disciplines
• Travel and learn
• Talk about your ideas
So much for computer science. What of the history of statistics? The logo
of the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) is a wheatsheaf, carried over from its
predecessor the Statistical Society of London (SSL). The SSL originally adopted
the motto aliis exterendum – to be threshed out by others. This conveys a clear

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