Happy International Women's Day - Remembering Great Scientists
It’s international women’s day, and the year is 2020. This year is all about realizing women’s rights, and I hope to see this all over the world. Following on from my piece about Mary Somerville, I wanted to continue looking back and remembering the scientists that contributed so much to our society.
//Marie Curie//
Marie was a Polish/French physicist, a Nobel Prize winter and she made a number of contributions to the realm of chemistry. If you’ve ever used the term ‘radioactive’ in science or talking about Spiderman, it was originally made by Marie and she continued to develop novel techniques in understanding radioactive atoms. From discovering elements that are used in Science to this very day, to contributing to health services during war (WW1), the achievements of this woman are most definitely timeless, and she has collected a number of accolades throughout her life. Through her journey she would inspire and train other women in the field of sciences.
//Gertrude B. Elion//
Gertrude was a dual scientist that specialised in biochemistry and pharmacology. Hailing from the US, she made an impact in the field of medicine throughout the 1900s. Her contributions were recognised in developing the rational drug design model that has paved the way for realising new drugs, a methodology that would serve as a foundation for many innovations. She was an ambassador of science and a driving force in helping other women get involved in Science. I wanted to remember that even as a graduate in Chemistry, she could find no paying job in the 1930s because she was a woman. Her perseverance continued through hardship, moving from job to job and striving to educate herself. The world eventually recognised her achievements and still does today, a role model for all.
//Rita Levi-Montalcini//
Rita made significant contributions to the world through her work in medicine. She lived for over 100 years, seeing a new millennium. Unfortunate events unfolding around her would eventually fuel and motivate her to enter the scientific field. Her career and education were not without hardship in Italy, facing discrimination for being Jewish. Her exemplary tenancy saw her take her studies home into her own home. Living through WW2, she survived a German invasion and continued to research in a difficult moment, never giving in and never losing sight of her scientific journey. Her work on discovering nerve growth factor (NGF) has been widely recognised and she is a well deserving Nobel prize winner. Yet another person who has laid down foundation for generations of research to the modern day.
There are many women who have made an impact in the scientific world, driven through hardships and showing strength that many of us aspire to have. Women continue to strive for their rightful place in society and have a great lineage of preceding figures that are testament to the greatness of women in the past, present and the coming future.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rita_Levi-Montalcini
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerve_growth_factor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_B._Elion
https://www.biography.com/scientist/marie-curie