LibGuides: The Way of Progress was Neither Swift nor Easy: Celebrating Women in Science: Home

Women in Science: An Introduction

Left: Sir William Herschel and Caroline Herschel. Coloured lithograph by A.Diethe. Wellcome Collection, United Kingdom - CC BY.
https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/9200579/hs76suwh. Right: Caroline Herschel, aged 92. Stipple engraving by J. Brown. Wellcome Collection, United Kingdom - CC BY. https://www.europeana.eu/en/item/9200579/cehe44wc.

Women’s contributions have often been underemphasized or left out of the History of Science. While gaining some fame for their contributions to midwifery and gynecology, as well as for their development of treatments for common injuries and ailments, pioneers such as Agnodike (4^th century BCE) and Jane Sharp (c. 1641–1671 CE) were rarely regarded as highly as medical men since childbirth and domestic medical practice were imagined as less prestigious “women’s work.”

Women have added to the wealth of human knowledge in the physical, earth, and life sciences, as well as in the fields of engineering and technology, both as patrons and practitioners—making notable discoveries in the fields of anatomy, astronomy, biology, botany, chemistry, computer science, ecology, genetics, geology, mathematics, oceanography, paleontology, pharmacology, philosophy, physics, physiology, virology, and zoology to name just a few.

“The Way of Progress was Neither Swift nor Easy”1 honors women of science and their innovative spirit—featuring not only towering figures, such as the two-time Nobel Prize-winner, Marie Curie (1867-1934), and “first lady of Physics Research” Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997), but also lesser-known scientists such as Fátima de Madrid (fl. 10^th century CE), Alessandra Giliani (1307-1326), Caroline Lucretia Herschel (1750-1848), Anandibai Joshi (1865-1887), Mary Agnes Meara Chase (1869-1963), and Katherine Johnson (1918-2020), as well as important women working in STEM today, such as Sau Lan Wu, (c. 1940s-), Mae C. Jemison (1956- ), Ellen Ochoa (1958-), Cynthia Breazeal (1967-), and Emmanuelle Charpentier (1968-).

1. Curie, M. (1923). Pierre Curie: With Autobiographical Notes (C. Kellogg & V. Kellogg, Trans.). Macmillan. p. 167.

The Untold History of Women in Science and Technology

Listen to women from across the [Obama] Administration tell the stories of their personal heroes across the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Share them yourself . . . And honor their legacy by committing to encourage a young woman to pursue a career in science.

From the Obama White House Archives.

Associations & Organizations for Women & Girls in Science

500 Women Scientists
500 Women Scientists is on its way to becoming a powerful organization representing the voices of tens of thousands of women scientists all over the globe.
Association for Women in Science
A Global Network of 100,000 Members, Allies and Supporters dedicated to driving excellence in STEM by achieving equity and full participation of women in all disciplines and across all employment sectors.
Black Girls Code
Black Girls CODE is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on providing technology education for African-American girls.
Graduate Women in Science
Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) has been empowering women as individuals and as a community since 1921. For almost 100 years we have worked to advance the participation and recognition of women in scientific fields through grants, awards and fellowships.
National Girls Collaborative Project
The National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) is a network of networks. We bring together organizations committed to informing and encouraging girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
OWSD is an international organisation that provides research training, career development and networking opportunities for women scientists throughout the developing world at different stages in their career.
Scientista
The Scientista Foundation is a national organization that empowers pre-professional women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through content, communities, and conferences. Currently the largest network of campus women across STEM disciplines, Scientista serves to connect all communities of women in STEM at campuses across the nation, giving such important organizations more visibility and resources, and building a strong, cohesive network of women in science that can act as one voice.
STEM for Her
The STEM for Her Mission is to promote education to create awareness, excitement, and opportunities among girls and young women to launch successful STEM-related careers. Through direct exposure to hands-on experiences, mentors and role models and other programs, STEM for Her enables girls and young women to envision the path to an education and a career in STEM.
Women in Machine Learning and Data Science
WiMLDS's mission is to support and promote women and gender minorities who are practicing, studying or are interested in the fields of machine learning and data science.
Women Who Code
Women Who Code is an international non-profit organization that provides services for women pursuing technology careers and a job board for companies seeking coding professionals. The company aims to provide an avenue into the technology world by evaluating and assisting women developing technical skills

Subject Guide

Meredith Ayers

She/Her/Hers

Email Me

Contact:

Founders Memorial Library 304A
815-753-1872
mayers@niu.edu

Subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Education, Environmental Studies