Born: December 8, 1919 (Chyhyryn, central Ukraine)
Biography:
Kateryna Lohvynivna Yushchenko (née Rvacheva) was a prominent Soviet Ukrainian computer and information research scientist. She was born on December 8, 1919, in Chyhyryn, central Ukraine. Yushchenko played a crucial role in the development of computer science and programming languages, making significant contributions to the field throughout her career.
Yushchenko began her academic journey by pursuing undergraduate studies at Kyiv University in 1937. However, with the outbreak of World War II, she had to temporarily interrupt her studies and relocated to Tashkent, where she attended the Central Asian State University and graduated in 1942. After the war, she returned to Ukraine and in 1950, under the guidance of Boris Gnedenko, she obtained her Ph.D. from the Institute of Mathematics of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences.
From 1950 to 1957, Yushchenko held the position of Senior Researcher at the Kiev Institute of Mathematics of the Ukrainian SSR Academy of Sciences. During this time, the Levedev Laboratory, which housed the first computer in continental Europe known as MESM, was transferred to the Institute of Mathematics. Yushchenko became a member of the joint group of scholars operating MESM, gaining invaluable experience in computing and programming.
In 1957, Yushchenko was appointed as the Director of the Institute of Computer Science of the Ukrainian SSR Academy of Sciences, a role she held for forty years. During her tenure, she established an internationally renowned scientific school of theoretical programming. One of her most significant achievements was the creation of the Address programming language, which marked a fundamental advancement in the field. This high-level language introduced the concept of indirect addressing or pointers, allowing for more complex tasks to be solved efficiently.
Yushchenko’s contributions to computer science were widely recognized, earning her numerous prestigious awards. She was made a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1976 and was a member of The International Academy of Computer Science. Yushchenko received two USSR State Prizes, The USSR Council of Ministers Prize, The Academician Glushkov Prize, and The Order of Princess Olga for her groundbreaking work in programming.
Her impact extended beyond her research achievements. As a female pioneer in the field of computer science, Yushchenko shattered gender barriers and became an inspiration for women seeking careers in STEM. She was the first woman in the USSR to earn a Doctorate in Physical and Mathematical Sciences in programming, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.
Throughout her academic career, Yushchenko also played a crucial mentoring role, supervising 45 Ph.D. students, who went on to make their own contributions to computer science. Her dedication to teaching and guiding future researchers led to the dissemination of her knowledge, further advancing the field.
Kateryna Yushchenko’s passion for computer science and her groundbreaking contributions to programming languages established her as a trailblazer in the field. Her work continues to shape the modern landscape of computer science, and her legacy has cemented her status as a pioneering figure in women’s history.
Awards:
– Corresponding Member of USSR Academy of Sciences (1976)
– Member of The International Academy of Computer Science
– Two USSR State Prizes
– The USSR Council of Ministers Prize
– The Academician Glushkov Prize
– The Order of Princess Olga