This August, the Enigma Cipher Center will unveil a new temporary exhibition, “Cipher Girls,” highlighting women’s roles in the history of STEM fields and digital technology.
Honoring Female Pioneers
The exhibit features remarkable Polish women, such as Zofia Sokolnicka, a cipher expert during WWI, and Hanna Malewska, who led cryptographic efforts during WWII. Other notable figures include record-breaking aviator and cipher specialist Wanda Modlibowska and Halina Ryffert, a mathematician who created a one-person cipher unit during WWII.
Spotlight on International Icons
The exhibition places Polish heroines alongside global icons like Ada Lovelace, the first programmer, and Hedy Lamarr, inventor of wireless communication. This international context emphasizes the continuous contributions of women to cryptography, mathematics, and computer science.
Interactive and Educational Experience
Designed to inspire, the exhibit echoes Judy Chicago’s “The Dinner Party,” fostering dialogue and learning. Visitors can engage in workshops, lectures, and Wikipedia edit-a-thons, making the exhibition an interactive educational space.