Dundee astronomer Williamina Fleming has once more been hailed as one of the pioneering scientists, as Mashable's list of "Top Unsung Women in Tech" once more returns this International Women's Day.
Originally published in 2018, the list has returned in 2025, placing Williamina Fleming at the forefront of forgotten pioneers.
Who was Williamina Fleming?
Fleming was born in Dundee in 1857. She made a considerable contribution to the classification of stars and astrophotography at the Harvard College Observatory.
Despite the barriers placed before women scientists, her career led to her discovery of over 10,000 stars and the discovery of the Horsehead Nebula, opening doors to modern astronomy.
Alongside this discovery, Williamina also discovered white dwarf stars.
She died very young in May 1911 at the age of 54 after succumbing to pneumonia.
Mashable's list, which has been republished on social media, ranked Williamina first alongside the Harvard Computers, a group of women that Williamina led after Professor Edward Pickering took Williamina on to do work for him.
The list also featured legendary STEM pioneers, from Grace Hopper, Annie Easley, Mary Allen Wilkes, Adele Goldberg and Susan Kare to name just a few.
As more institutions and organisations make women like Fleming the center of attention, the fresh spotlight on her story is a reminder of the many female pioneers whose contributions have impacted the world of technology and science.
Sources
15 unsung women in tech you should know about via Mashable
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