While men may dominate computer science today, women played fascinating, overlooked roles in the field’s early days. During World War II, more than 10,000 American women were recruited to Washington, D.C., to take part in the United States’ massive codebreaking initiative. In her latest book, Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II, author Liza Mundy tells the secret history of these women, whose efforts saved countless lives and opened previously denied career opportunities to a new generation of women.

On Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m., Future Tense and New America’s Better Life Lab will host a discussion in Washington, D.C., between Mundy and contemporary technologists. They will discuss the hidden lives of these heroic Americans and what their stories tell us about women in computer science today. For more information and to RSVP, visit the New America website.

Speakers:
Liza Mundy
Senior fellow, New America
Author of Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Codebreakers of World War II, The Richer Sex, and Michelle: A Biography

Erie Meyer
Senior director of the national network, Code for America
Co-founder, U.S. Digital Service

Courtney Eimerman-Wallace
Director of technology, Color of Change

Moderator:
Ian Wallace
Co-director, Cybersecurity Initiative, New America