Dr. Grace Hopper
(from her biography here) The achievements of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper which, most notably, include the invention of the compiler, cemented her place at the forefront of the computing revolution that began in the early 1940s. Trained as a mathematician, her career spanned six decades during which she remained simultaneously connected across several disciplines and industries, including academia, industry and the U.S. military.
Wikipedia has a good article on “Amazing Grace” here
Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference Co-founded by Dr. Anita Borg and Dr. Telle Whitney in 1994 and inspired by the legacy of Admiral Grace Murray Hopper, the Institute’s Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) Of Women In Computing Conference is designed to bring the research and career interests of women in computing to the forefront.
Wangari Maathai
Wangari Muta Maathai was the founder of what became known as the Green Belt Movement. (from her biography) Professor Maathai is internationally recognized for her persistent struggle for democracy, human rights and environmental conservation. She has addressed the UN on several occasions and spoke on behalf of women at special sessions of the General Assembly during the five-year review of the Earth Summit. She served on the commission for Global Governance and the Commission on the Future. She and the Green Belt Movement have received numerous awards, most notably the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize.
Wikipedia’s article is here
Marie Curie
(from her biography here) Marie Curie was a Polish-born physicist and chemist and one of the most famous scientists of her time. Together with her husband Pierre, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1903, and she went on to win another in 1911.
Wikipedia’s article is here