Discovering Computer Science

Barbara Liskov, Institute Professor at MIT and head of the university’s Programming Methodology Group, describes how she stumbled into computing after graduating from UC-Berkeley with a degree in mathematics. She explains how taking a break between undergrad and grad school to work as a programmer opened an unexpected door, giving her crucial hands-on experience in the emerging field of computer science. That practical experience, in turn, led to an impactful and fulfilling career in academia.