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The Life Scientific: Episode 92: Stephanie Shirley on computer coding

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Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Stephanie Shirley

Episode 92

Episode 92: Stephanie Shirley on computer coding

Stephanie Shirley on computer coding

BBC Radio 4 - The Life Scientific, Stephanie Shirley on computer coding

Software pioneer Dame Stephanie Shirley talks to Jim Al-Khalili.

Software pioneer Dame Stephanie Shirley talks to Jim Al-Khalili about selling computer programmes to companies who had no idea what they were.

As a young woman, Stephanie Shirley worked at the Dollis Hill Research Station building computers from scratch: but she told young admirers that she worked for the Post Office, hoping they would think she sold stamps. In the early 60s she changed her name to Steve and started selling computer programmes to companies who had no idea what they were or what they could do, employing only mothers who worked from home writing code by hand with pen and pencil and then posted it to her. By the mid-80s her software company employed eight thousand people, still mainly women with children. She made an absolute fortune but these days Stephanie thinks less about making money and much more about how best to give it away. 

Producer: Anna Buckley.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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Factual: Life Stories

Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work.

Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work, finding out what inspires them and asking what their discoveries might do for us in the future.

Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work, finding out what inspires and motivates them and asking what their discoveries might do for us in the future

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Episode 92: Stephanie Shirley on computer coding

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