Ali Parsa is an Iranian computer specialist, traveler, mountaineer, sailor, and contributor and supporter of the Persian Wikipedia. He was born in Tehran in 1951 (1329 SH) and studied computer science at universities in Iran and the United States. In 1971, while at Aryamehr University of Technology (now Sharif University of Technology), he met his future wife, Shahrzad Tasoudji. They have two daughters, Saba and Saman.

Parsa’s professional life has been closely associated with the development and application of computer technology in Iran. Alongside his career in computing, he has pursued a remarkably broad range of interests, including mountaineering, desert exploration, sailing, recreational aviation, writing, and the promotion of public knowledge.

Education

Parsa studied computer science at universities in Iran and the United States. Part of his university education took place at Aryamehr University of Technology, now known as Sharif University of Technology.

Over the course of his professional career, he developed expertise in areas including software engineering, computer graphics, engineering applications of computers, and the Internet. His interest in aviation also led him to obtain a private pilot certificate and undertake instrument flight training.

Activities and Works

Parsa worked in computer applications for several Iranian companies and projects. At IRITEC, he was responsible for engineering applications, and at Iran Data Systems Company, he became manager of the software department. He also spent two years working on a satellite project in Mahdasht, Karaj, and served for four years as CEO of Simia Computer Graphics Company. For a period, he also advised companies on the use and adoption of the Internet.

Parsa served for four years as editor of Computer Report (Gozaresh-e Computer) magazine. His articles and interviews have appeared in several Iranian publications, including Computer Report, Nashr-e Danesh, Lawh, and Nashr-e Riazi.

Beyond his career in computing, Parsa has been an active mountaineer since his university years. He has climbed most of Iran’s major peaks as well as several mountains elsewhere in the world. In the 2000s, he began exploring Iran’s deserts and was among the early travelers to venture into Rig-e Jenn, a remote area of Iran’s Central Desert.

From the mid-2010s onward, sailing became another major pursuit. Parsa sailed across various seas and oceans, and his growing interest in the maritime traditions of southern Iran led him to write Sails of the South: Sailing in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, a study of traditional sailing in the region.

For several years, he also pursued recreational aviation, earning a private pilot certificate and undertaking instrument flight training before eventually giving up flying. In retirement, he has continued to devote much of his time to hiking, nature travel, and tennis.

Books:

• Sails of the South: Sailing in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean
• The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering — Persian translation

Achievements and Recognition

Ali Parsa is a Distinguished Member of the Iran Informatics Society and has contributed to efforts aimed at promoting scientific and public knowledge. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Zirkzadeh Science Foundation, an organization dedicated to disseminating knowledge among the general public.

He is also an active contributor and supporter of Persian Wikipedia, where he has made nearly 20,000 edits.

Combining several decades of professional experience in computing with extensive involvement in mountaineering, desert exploration, sailing, aviation, and public knowledge initiatives, Parsa has pursued a life that bridges technology, intellectual curiosity, travel, and exploration.