Introduction
Marie Curie who discovered two
elements, was the first women to win a
Nobel Prize in 1903, and was the first
person to win a second Nobel, in 1911.
But Curie was not the first female
scientist. Many other brilliant,
dedicated and determined women have
pursued science over the years.
Hypatia
Hypatia was a Roman woman who, unlike most
women during her time, received a good
education. Hypatia studied mathematics,
astronomy and natural science, and was
appointed as the head of the University of
Alexandria. She taught mathematics and
philosophy. Hypatia wrote many books about
math, and even invented several scientific
instruments. Because of her teachings, a new
ruler became angry with Hypatia and she was
murdered. Her writings were destroyed, but
she is one of the most well known women
scientists in history.
Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard wrote natural history books
as well as medical books, and was the
first person to write about the need to
boil drinking water for sanitation.
Hildegard also taught religion and
medicine, and she emphasized the
importance of exercise and diet. She is
the first woman whose scientific
writings still exist today.
Florence Nightingale
As a nurse she started the Nightingale
School and Home for Nurses, and helped
improve hospital conditions in India and
England. Florence wrote books on
nursing and hospital design, emphasizing
the need for organization, cleanliness
and compassion for the sick.
Caroline Herschel
She was a brilliant astronomer and
discovered new nebulae and star
clusters. She was the first woman to
discover a comet (she discovered eight
in total) and the first to have her work
published by the Royal Society. She was
also the first British woman to get paid
for her scientific work.
Mary Anning
She had little formal education and taught
herself anatomy, geology, paleontology and
scientific illustration. Scientists of the
time travelled far to consult and hunt for
fossils with Anning. She was a fossil
hunter. In addition to ichthyosaurs, she
found long-necked plesiosaurs, a
pterodactyl and thousands of other fossils
that helped scientists to draw a picture of
the marine world 200 million years ago
during the Jurassic Age.
Maria Mitchell
Young Maria learned to observe the stars
from her fathers. When she was 12, she
helped her father record the time of an
eclipse. At 17 she begun her own school
for girls teaching them science and math.
In 1847 she spotted a blurry streak – a
comet – through her telescope. Mitchell
was the first female astronomy
professor in the United States. She
observed mainly the sun and travelled up
to 2,000 miles to witness an eclipse.
Maria Telkes
She was a physical chemist and
biophysicist and was known for
the invention of the solar
distiller and the first
solar-powered heating system
designed for use in the home.
Mathilde Krim
She was a medical researcher and health
educator and was known for her work in
combating AIDS and HIV through
research and education.
Elizabeth Blackwell
Elizabeth was the very first woman doctor
in the United States. Elizabeth's sister
Emily started a hospital staffed only by
women doctors, and Elizabeth then opened
a medical school for women.
Gertrude Belle Elion
Gertrude was inspired to study chemistry when
her grandfather died of cancer and she wanted
to help research this disease. Gertrude wrote
more than 280 papers on her discoveries about
drugs, and discovered or developed drugs that
help fight leukemia, herpes, malaria, AIDS, and
aid organ transplants. Gertrude and Dr. George
Hitchings won the Nobel Prize in medicine for
their work in developing drugs. When Gertrude
was 73, she was invited into the National
Inventors Hall of Fame, the first woman. There
are more than 45 patents for drugs that
Gertrude developed.
Sally Ride
Sally became the first woman
astronaut to orbit Earth in space. She
experienced weightlessness and even
grew an inch because her spine was not
compressed by gravity as it is on Earth.
While in space, she performed many
experiments, which help people to learn
how to adapt to life in space.