STEM

Emerita Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Mazlan binti Othman (1951 - Present)

Malaysia’s First Astrophysicist

Emerita Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Mazlan Othman is Malaysia’s first astrophysicist, pioneering the fields of astronomy and astrophysics within her country. Throughout her career, she created an undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum in astronomy for Malaysian universities while still publishing research. As a leader in her field, she pushed the nation towards progress in space exploration, sending the country’s first astronaut – Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor – to space as well as launching two remote-sensing satellites.

Mazlan has contributed to the field on an international basis, stepping into several positions; she served as the Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space (UNOOSA) twice, the Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), and director of the International Science Council Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific. Today, she remains a fellow of numerous scientific organizations, promoting science in her own way.

“Knowing when to change comes with knowledge and wisdom you will acquire in your journey. Be careful to stick to your ethics, sense of integrity and moral principles.” – Emerita Professor Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. Mazlan binti Othman

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Ellen Swallow Richards (1842 - 1911)

First Female Graduate of MIT, Founder of Home Economics, and Professor of Sanitary Chemistry

Ellen Swallow Richards was a chemist, engineer, and scholar who performed groundbreaking work in health management and experimental human ecology. In 1871, she became the first woman to be admitted to MIT, one of the world’s most prestigious research institutions. As she became a pioneer in sanitary chemistry and euthenics, she founded MIT’s Women’s Laboratory, where she taught aspiring pupils chemical analysis, industrial chemistry, mineralogy, and biology. Furthermore, some of her most notable accomplishments include establishing the first water quality standards in Massachusetts and checks on food and air conditions in the state.

Considered to be an ecofeminist and lead scientist in her field, Richards regarded women's domestic work as an essential element of the economy and most importantly explored how to apply science for the benefit of the home, community, and human prosperity.

“Home Economics stands for the ideal home life for today unhampered by the traditions of the past and the utilization of all the resources of modern science to improve home life.” - ESR

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Samantha Cristoforetti (1977 - Present)

Italian Astronaut, Engineer, and Pilot

Samantha Cristoforetti, a 45-year-old astronaut, though still young, is far more accomplished than countless others in her field, in her country, and on our planet. Samantha Cristoforetti holds the record for the most extended single space mission by a woman (199 days, 16 hours). As of five years ago, she holds the longest continuous spaceflight by a European astronaut. Having studied all around the world and pursued different interests, ranging from mechanical engineering to military and space air flight, Cristoforetti has earned her title as a citizen of the world (and of outer space, of course!) Through her linguistic abilities, unprecedented honors and titles, and especially her determination to push through any endeavor, Cristoforetti has proven that she’s capable of adapting to any job, circumstance, or experience.

Beyond her impressive accomplishments, Cristoforetti is known for her adventurous spirit and love for storytelling. During her time in space, she has shared her experiences through social media and educational videos, captivating audiences with insights into life aboard the International Space Station. One memorable moment was when she brewed the first espresso in space, demonstrating her passion for coffee and connecting with people back on Earth. This unique blend of science and lifestyle showcases her belief in making space exploration accessible and relatable, inspiring the next generation of astronauts and explorers.

“When it seems to you that there is no way out, stop, breathe, and change your perspective. A trivial lesson, perhaps, but which I feel I have learned in my bones, not in the intellect.” - Samantha Cristoforetti

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Yi Soyeon (June 2, 1978 - Present)

First and Only South Korean Citizen to Fly in Space

Yi Soyeon, the first and only South Korean citizen to fly in space, has exemplified remarkable resilience and tenacity throughout her life and successful career in science. As the only woman in her family to surpass middle school, she fervently pursued her passion for science, attending one of Korea’s most prestigious universities to study mechanical engineering: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Soyeon further shattered gender barriers within the STEM field by going on to earn a doctorate in biotechnology systems. In 2006, Soyeon distinguished herself in the Korean Astronaut Program, emerging as one of the two finalists from an astounding 36,000 applicants. Her journey led her to embark on an 11-day mission at the International Space Station, where she conducted extensive and groundbreaking research. Soyeon’s achievements extend beyond her remarkable journey into space. Currently, she leads the biotechnology startup Noul Co., Ltd and has obtained her MBA, further showcasing her versatility and relentless pursuit of knowledge and innovation. Soyeon’s narrative is a testament to the boundless potential of women when granted the opportunity to explore their passions.

“Growing up, no one could have imagined that I would become an astronaut. Thirty years later, I became a [doctor of philosophy] and the first Korean woman astronaut. Within 60 years, Korean women's history was totally changed. I am so proud to be a part of that.” - Yi Soyeon

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Mary Winston Jackson (1921 - 2005)

American Engineer

Mary Winston Jackson became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) first black female engineer in 1958. She held two bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and physical sciences and was also a mathematics teacher, clerk, and bookkeeper.

In her 34-year career, she joined and led several NASA inclusion programs where aspiring minority engineers and mathematicians could earn their qualifications–many of which would not have been possible without such programs challenging racial prejudices at the time. Jackson also earned numerous accolades throughout her career, including the Congressional Gold Medal.

“Obstacles are only opportunities in disguise” - Mary W. Jackson

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Annie Jump Cannon (1863 - 1941)

American Astronomer

Annie Jump Cannon was a pioneer astronomer who developed the modern-day Harvard stellar classification system, which organizes stars into groups and subgroups based on characteristics such as temperature and luminosity. Fascinated by the stars since childhood, Cannon pursued physics and astronomy studies at Wellesley College and furthered her education at Radcliffe College. Most of her work was done at the Harvard College Observatory under Director Edward Pecking and alongside numerous female astronomers, including Williamina Fleming. She was deaf most of her career due to surviving scarlet fever.

Over the span of her career, she classified more than 225,00 different stars and discovered 300 variable stars, five novae, and a binary star. She was named Harvard’s William C. Bond Astronomer in 1938 and became the first woman to receive an honorary doctorate from Oxford in 1925. After becoming the first female officer of the American Astronomical Society, she established the Annie Jump Cannon Award to honor and encourage young female astronomers. Cannon was also a suffragette and a member of the National Women's Party.

“Every star has a story to tell, and it is up to us to listen, to decipher their messages, and to learn from them.” - Annie Jump Cannon

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Ellen Ochoa (1958 - Present)

NASA Astronaut, First Hispanic Woman in Space

As the first Hispanic woman in the world to go to space, Ellen Ochoa made history during her nine-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. She would go on to complete four space flights, log nearly 1,000 hours in space, and even become the first astronaut to play a flute in space. Ochoa redefined being a woman in astronomy as she took on male-dominated leadership roles at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) by becoming the second female director of the Johnson Space Center.

In 2017, Ochoa was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Notably, six schools across the country are named in her honor. She currently travels the world giving speeches as an advocate for STEM education and held the position of chair of the National Science Board from 2020-2022.

“Success comes to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Ellen Ochoa

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Sarah Qureshi (Unknown - Present)

Aerospace Engineer and CEO of Aero-Engine Craft

Dr. Sarah Qureshi is a Pakistani aerospace engineer, entrepreneur, and innovator. She is the CEO of Aero-Engine Craft, a private aviation company that focuses on developing environment-friendly airplanes located in Pakistan. The name of this company was inspired by her daughter Ayat Qureshi. She co-founded this company with her father, Masood Qureshi, in July 2018. Furthermore, one of her main innovations is a contrail-free aero engine in which Qureshi plans to change the aviation industry through her revolutionary technology. On a global scale, Qureshi has worked towards eliminating contrails by recovering water from fuel exhaust emissions as a net positive product. This can be a crucial development for countries suffering from drought since this innovation helps to reduce CO2 emissions released from airplanes.

Qureshi aspires to create an efficient, eco-friendly aircraft, promising a more sustainable future for both humans and the environment.

“Aviation has been a passion for me since I was a child, as I grew up in a family of scientists and engineers." - Sarah Qureshi

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Frances Allen (1932 - 2020)

American Computer Scientist

Frances Elizabeth Allen, born in New York on August 4, 1932, was an American computer scientist. Allen has received many awards and accomplished various achievements during her academic and professional career. Allen is best known for being the very first female International Business Machines (IBM) Fellow to receive the A.M. Turing Award in 2006, the most prestigious and highest award one can receive in computer science. The award illustrates Allen’s “pioneering contributions to the theory and practice of optimizing compiler techniques that laid the foundation for modern optimizing compilers and automatic parallel execution.” Later that year, the IMB Ph.D. The Fellowship Award was created in honor of Allen. Furthermore, Allen also served as a professor at New York University (NYU) from 1970 to 1973, where she actively taught mathematical sciences. From Allen’s endless hours of work to her goals and passions, she has specialized in developing advanced computer compilers, which would thus lead to the efficiency and rapidness of computers.

“All the things I do are of a piece. I’m exploring the edges, finding new ways of doing things. It keeps me very, very engaged.” - Frances Allen

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Adele Goldberg (1945 - Present)

American Computer Scientist

Adele Goldberg is a computer scientist who has made immense contributions to technology and computer science, showcasing great passion for the evolution of this industry. Along with Goldberg’s passion for computer science, she is also a computer corporate executive and administrator. This was the very first object-oriented language created that changed how programmers viewed STEM. Along with Goldberg’s success, in the past, she has received numerous awards. For instance, in 1987, she received the ACM Software Systems Award andalso became a member of the Association for Computer Machinery. With Goldberg’s innovative and logical thinking skills, she has expanded the horizon for programs and applications, creating a new programming language system that will effectively benefit the technological society.

“Don’t ask whether you can do something, but how to do it.” - Adele Goldberg

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Alma Dea Morani (1907 - 2001)

First American Female Plastic Surgeon, Artist, and Educator

Dr. Alma Dea Morani, the first woman in the United States to ever pursue a career in plastic surgery, showcased extreme grit and passion within her lifetime. She persevered to build a name for herself, despite the numerous obstacles that assuming a career in a male-dominated field brought forth. The immense difficulty to receive proper training as a woman in this specialty often steered many away, fearful of receiving prejudice or being belittled by their male counterparts. Yet, Morani never abandoned her desire and instead utilized the restrictions set on her as fuel to become a talented plastic surgeon.

Morani’s artistic ability, nurtured by her sculptor and painter father, not only sparked her love for plastics but also catalyzed her progression toward gaining recognition in a field that was innately designed to limit her success. She testified the ways art could benefit a doctor and their procedures. As Morani’s career and success progressed, she not only improved the lives of patients worldwide but also paved a path for women who share a common dream.

“In fact, it never occurred to them that any women wanted to be surgeons.” - Alma Dea Morani

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Lise Meitner (1878 - 1968)

Jewish Austrian-Swedish Physicist, Discovered Nuclear Fission

Lise Meitner was a critical pioneer of physics during the 1930s. During the Holocaust, she fled Germany due to her Jewish heritage and settled in Sweden, continuing her research with her colleague Otto Hahn. Meitner and Hahn ended up discovering nuclear fission and published their historic research. In 1994, their discovery was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Chemistry, which only Hahn received. Despite this, Meitner continued to accept many more awards for her discovery.

In addition, she co-founded a new isotope of Protactinium, element 109, named Meitnerium in honor of her discovery. Even though many revered her as the ‘Mother of the Atomic Bomb,’ she opposed the title as she was prolifically against the usage of nuclear weapons.

Albert Einstein once praised her to be the ‘German Marie Curie.’

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Dr. Dorothy Klenke Nash (1898 - 1976)

American Neurosurgeon and Activist

Dorothy Klenke Nash was the first female doctor to specialize in neurosurgery in the United States and was the only female neurosurgeon in the country from 1928 to 1960. In the years following her graduation from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, she conducted research on life-saving diagnostic technology. As the president of the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania, she worked to empower Pennsylvanian women and honor their achievements. Being a lifelong advocate for mental health, Dr. Nash never missed an opportunity to bring awareness to mental health through fighting the stigma against it and founding the mental health society of her county. She was honored for her numerous achievements by being awarded the Minerva Award, named after the Roman goddess of wisdom, by the Women’s Auxiliary of Mercy West, and by being awarded a commemorative medallion from Columbia.

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Mary Edwards Walker (1832 - 1919)

American Suffragist, Patriot, and Surgeon

Best known for being the first and only woman to ever receive the most-distinct U.S. Medal of Honor, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker played a pivotal role in American society and history. Placing her amongst the heroes of her era, this recognition was not the first nor the last “only woman” title she would receive in her life. While fighting for gender equality and challenging gender norms persisted for centuries, Walker showed the world what it truly means to be a woman, an activist, and everything in between.

“Struggle for political rights, for it is through such, and such alone, that you will ever obtain human rights. It is not simply for yourself, but for that great army of young women, who cannot yet see the necessity for anything but smiles and gallantry from the future husbands.” - Mary Edwards Walker

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Annie Easley (1933 - 2011)

American Computer Scientist, Mathematician, and Rocket Scientist

Annie Easley was an American computer scientist, mathematician, and rocket scientist, who made remarkable contributions to the technology field. Her research on energy-conversion systems has advanced various fields revolving around technology, science, and mathematics. Easley received various awards for her contributions to the modern world, including the Special Achievement Award from NASA Director of Administration Henry Barnett and Deputy Director Gene Manganiello. Easley would become known as a “human computer” because of her computational calculations for researchers. Her wide range of contributions to society includes interpreting power technology, which was used for vehicles assisting in the Centaur upper-stage rocket. In addition, Easley inspires many around the globe to follow her footsteps as a STEM pioneer.

“Don’t give up on it. Just stick with it. Don’t listen to the people who always tell you it’s hard, and walk away from it.” - Annie Easley

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Katya Echazarreta (1996 - Present)

First Mexico-born Woman to go to Space, Mexican Electrical Engineer

Katya Echazarreta is an electrical engineer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and was the first Mexican-born woman to travel to space. Out of nearly 7,000 applications from over 100 countries, Echazarreta was chosen as the sixth passenger on the New Shepard, owned by Blue Origin.

At the age of seven, Echazarreta and her family migrated to the United States and began their new lives in San Diego, California. After graduating high school, Echazarreta went to San Diego City College, a community college, where she studied electrical engineering. In her junior year, she transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she continued her education. While attending, she completed an internship at NASA. Upon graduating and earning her Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, she began working full-time at NASA. There, she has worked over five missions.

Today, she continues to work full-time as an electrical engineer at NASA and part-time as a student pursuing her Master’s at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Echazarreta also has a social media presence, most notably on her YouTube channel and Instagram account "KatVoltage," where she shares her experiences working at NASA.

“If there’s something that you truly, truly want to do, it’s very important not to let those voices around you tell you that you’re not good enough.” - Katya Echazarreta

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Rachel Louise Carson (1907 - 1964)

Marine Biologist, Writer, and Conservationist

Rachel Carson made influential contributions to environmental science and is recognized as the mother of modern environmentalism. Her groundbreaking book Silent Spring (1962) informed the public about the impacts of pesticide use and advanced the global environmental movement. For her work, she won numerous awards, such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Guggenheim Fellowship for Natural Sciences.

“But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself” - Rachel Carson

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Cecilia Payne (1900 - 1979)

American Astronomer, Astrophysicist, and Recipient of the Rittenhouse Medal

Cecilia Payne made vital contributions to astronomy in the twentieth century. She studied and taught at Harvard University, where she advanced our knowledge of the composition of stars. Payne also categorized the stars by their temperatures. For her work, she won several awards, such as the Rittenhouse Medal and the Henry Norris Russell Lectureship.

“There is nothing personal in the thunderclap of understanding. The lighting that releases it comes from outside oneself.” - Cecilia Payne

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Mabel Addis Mergardt (1912-2004)

First Female Video Game Designer, Co-Creator of the First Educational Video Game, and Teacher

Mabel Addis Mergardt was an extremely influential game designer and teacher. In 1962, Mergardt worked with the Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and IBM to create the first educational video game. She worked on the game for five years with William McKay, an IBM programmer, overseeing its storyline and progression.

The result of their efforts was the Sumerian Game, a text-based video game. The Sumerian Game made strides not only as the first educational video game but also as one of the first narrative-based video games. The Sumerian Game showed that a well-designed video game could be fun for people of all ages and inspired multiple other text-based video games, each influential in their own right, such as the Oregon Trail in 1971 and Hammurabi in 1978.

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Jane Cooke (1919 - 2013)

Cancer Researcher and Professor

As one of the first researchers of drugs’ roles in clinical oncology, Jane Cooke laid the foundation for cancer research as we know it today. She also served as a role model of hard work, as the first black female dean at a nationally ranked medical institution, while also conducting immense research, and even publishing 135 papers during her career.

Jane also took time out of her busy schedule to assist the future generation of scientists, whether that be by teaching at universities or co-founding institutions, such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology (which provides funds for post-fellowship doctors to conduct research).

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Ada Lovelace (1815 - 1852)

English Mathematician, The First Computer Programmer

Celebrated as the world’s first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace’s creation of an algorithm to compute Bernoulli numbers provided the foundation for the first modern computers. Ada’s artistic passion and technological skills allowed her to envision a machine that was capable of more than simple calculations. She imagined a world in which machines could not only execute complex mathematical operations, but also have the potential to compose music, create paintings, and manipulate sound. Alongside Charles Babbage, she developed the concept of the Analytical Engine: a multipurpose machine that was reprogrammable and able to perform a variety of mathematical operations.

“Mathematical science shows what is. It is the language of unseen relations between things. But to use and apply that language, we must be able fully to appreciate, to feel to seize the unseen, the unconscious. - Ada Lovelace

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Dorothy Hodgkin (1910 - 1994)

English Chemist and Crystallographer

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin was an English chemist who used x-ray crystallography to discover the 3-dimensional structures of penicillin, vitamin B₁₂, and insulin. At a time when crystallography was one of the few fields in chemistry that welcomed women, Hodgkin managed to thrive and make a name for herself through continuous hard work and the formation of a reputation in the international scientific community that reflected her brilliance and skill.

Throughout her career, Hodgkin was a member of several prestigious scientific societies, such as the Royal Netherlands Academy of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. She also won numerous awards, including the Nobel Prize, the Copley Medal, and the Order of Merit. She was one of the first women to win these awards and receive recognition by the scientific community for her work.

An interesting fact about Dorothy Hodgkin is that while she described herself as being “captured for life by chemistry and by crystals,” she maintained strong interests in archaeology, participating in an excavation of Jerash before college. She also loved poetry and was known to memorize lines from Tennyson and Browning.

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Marie Curie (1867 - 1934)

Polish-French physicist

Marie Curie is a pioneering scientist best known for her work on radioactivity, a term which she and her husband coined during the 20th century. Curie made history on several occasions as the first woman to ever win a Nobel Prize and the first person to win two Nobel Prizes. Additionally, she was the first woman to get a Ph.D. from a French University - the University of Paris. Her main discoveries were the ability to isolate the radioactive elements which came from pitchblende.

After her husband's death, she replaced him as a professor at Sorbonne University (metonymically known as the University of Paris), where she became the first female professor, once again making history as she became the first woman to teach at the University.

“A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician: he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales.” - Marie Curie

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Grace Hopper (1906 - 1992)

Computer Scientist, US Navy Admiral, and Recipient of the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom

Grace Hopper was one of the very few first women to receive her Ph.D. in mathematics. She was known for designing Mark I, II, and III, which started the evolution of electronic computers. Finally, she was known for being one of the longest-serving soldiers in the Navy, retiring at 79 years of age.

Grace Hopper continues to influence the lives of many to this day, as there is a celebration/conference dedicated to her in her name, where women all around the world come together to inform others on their experiences in the tech field.

“The most dangerous phrase in the language is, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’” -Grace Hopper

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Valentina Tereshkova (1937 - Present)

Russian Astronaut, Engineer, and Politician

Valentina Tereshkova was the first and youngest woman to go to space, with a solo mission on June 16th, 1963, in the Vostok 6. Tereshkova reported no interest in becoming a cosmonaut prior to her mission, but she was chosen anyway for the Russian space program because of her history as a skydiver. She was one of five out of four hundred female candidates to be chosen to go to space. Tereshkova only went on one spaceflight in her lifetime. However, her spaceflight amassed more space flight hours than the combined hours of American astronauts who had flown before her, and she is the only woman to do a solo space flight. After her cosmonaut career, Tereshkova became a well-known representative of the Soviet Union and became a member of the World Peace Council in 1966.

Her most impressive award for her flight was the Hero of the Soviet Union medal. Besides being an accomplished astronaut, she has been recognized for her work as an engineer and politician. She currently serves on the Russian State Duma as a deputy chairperson of the Committee on the Federal Structure and Local Government.

“If women can be railroad workers in Russia, why can’t they fly in space?” -Valentina Tereshkova

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Chien-Shiung Wu (1912 - 1997)

Nuclear Physicist

Chien-Shiung Wu was a nuclear physicist and professor who provided the first evidence that disproved the Law of Conservation of Parity under the Wu experiment. However, she was excluded from the Nobel Prize award despite providing crucial evidence for disproving this law.

Wu was a key contributor to the Manhattan Project, helping develop the first atomic bomb. Her book, “Beta Decay,” became the standard reference for nuclear physicists. Chien-Shiung Wu became the first female instructor at Princeton, the first tenured female professor in Columbia University’s physics department, and the first female to win several science awards in her field. Wu spent her later years devoted to programs in the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, and the United States to encourage more women to pursue science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics.

"I wonder whether the tiny atoms and nuclei, or the mathematical symbols, or the DNA molecules have any preference for either masculine or feminine treatment.” -Chien-Shiung Wu

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Beverley Bass (1952 - Present)

Captain and Co-Founder of the International Society of Women Airline Pilots

Beverley Bass is the first female captain for the American Airlines and the third female to be hired as a pilot for American Airlines. She co-founded the International Society of Women Airline Pilots and is a starring character in the musical “Come From Away.” Her perseverance has helped her become a pioneer in aviation and a champion in hard work.

“If they respected me as a pilot, and they respected my abilities, then I was no different than a guy.” -Beverley Bass

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Harriet Chalmers Adams (1875 - 1937)

American Geographer

Harriet Chalmers was one of the most celebrated American explorers from 1904 until her death in 1937. She was an expert on Latin America. and her knowledge was valued by both government and business sectors, as well as in academic circles. Adams was one of the first American women elected to membership status in the Royal Geographic Society of London (1913). She was a prolific writer, contributing twenty-one articles to the National Geographic Magazine. Although she enjoyed widespread fame during her lifetime, she is virtually unknown in the history of geography. Adams, and many female contemporaries, are missing from geographical history and the history of exploration.

In the early 20th century, Adams figured out what millions of people on social media and crowdsourcing sites still contemplate today: How do you make a living from your adventures? She logged over 100,000 miles—the equivalent of traveling four times around the circumference of the world—all before trans-Atlantic commercial airlines existed. And she was paid for it.

“I’ve never found my sex a hinderment; never faced a difficulty, which a woman, as well as a man, could not surmount; never felt a fear of danger; never lacked courage to protect myself. I’ve been in tight places and have seen harrowing things,” -Harriet Chalmers Adams

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Frances Oldham Kelsey (1914 - 2015)

American Pharmacologist and Physician

Frances Oldham Kelsey was a Canadian-born American pharmacologist and physician. Kelsey was credited as the woman who prevented thousands of babies in the United States from being born with severe birth defects and abnormalities. She also strengthened laws and regulations regarding drug development and held an essential role in maintaining drug safety in the United States. During her lifetime and career as a female in the field of science, she broke gender stereotypes and showed that a woman can succeed in male dominated fields.

"Good scientists are almost invariably good writers, and that poor writing is often a sign of poor science." -Frances Oldham Kelsey

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Dr. Irene Ayako Uchida (1917 - 2013)

Geneticist and Pioneer of Canadian Cytogenetics

Dr. Irene Uchida was a pioneering Japanese Canadian geneticist of the 20th century, overcoming anti-Japanese racism to advance her career. She most notably discovered a link between levels of radiation exposure in mothers and rates of Down syndrome in their children. She also developed the first diagnostic blood test in Canada to karyotype infants’ chromosomes, thus founding Canada’s first cytogenetics program. Throughout her career, Uchida published nearly 100 medical papers.

Dr. Uchida was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1993, the second highest honour for merit in Canada. She was also awarded honorary Doctorates of Science from McMaster University and the University of Western Ontario.

“Science is a rewarding and challenging career. Young people going into science must keep an open mind to all ideas in an effort to find every possible way to help people.” -Dr. Irene Uchida

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Franziska Tiburtius (1843 - 1927)

Physician and Education Advocate

Franziska Tiburtius was a German physician and an activist for educational equity. After studying at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, she attempted to become a doctor, but the government denied her of a medical license because she was a woman. However, Tiburtius persevered and created the Berlin Clinic of Women Doctors. Despite facing extreme discimination, she practiced medicine for most of her life and created the Surgery Clinic for Women Doctors, which focused its care on women without health insurance.

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Lin Lanying (1918 - 2003)

Chinese Electrical Engineer, Materials Scientist, Physicist, and “Mother of Aerospace Materials and Semiconductor Materials”

Lin Lanying was a researcher for the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), then for the Institute of Semiconductors CAS. She produced China’s first monocrystalline silicon and the furnace made to extract the silicon, as well as China’s first monocrystalline gallium arsenide. She started a new research field of micro-gravitational semiconductor materials and captivated the world’s attention with her research on space growth of gallium arsenide crystals and its properties. Under her leadership, high purity vapor and liquid phase epitaxy were produced and reached an advanced level according to international standards. She was elected Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and became the vice president of the China Association for Science and Technology. Her research and work would lay the foundation for the development of microelectronics and optoelectronics for years to come.

“Can someone give me another ten years? In ten years, I can definitely finish what I am doing and I can die with no regrets!” -Lin Lanying

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Sudha Murthy (1950 - Present)

Chairperson (Infosys Foundation), Author, Computer Scientist and Engineer, and Social Worker

Sudha Murthy was the first woman to attend an engineering college and graduate school in India. She is also an Indian social worker and author who balances her professional career as a computer scientist and engineering teacher. She is the chairperson of Infosys Foundation, a non-profit established by her husband’s company Infosys Technologies, that supports programs in education and development, and has also authored many short stories and novels.

She was awarded the Padma Shri Award—the fourth-highest civilian award in the Republic of India—in 2006 for her social work, as well as the R.K. Narayan Award for Literature in 2006 and the Attimabbe Award from the Government of Karnataka for excellence in Kannada literature in 2011. Despite these achievements, she never let fame and money get to her head and said, “[m]oney is one thing which rarely unites and mostly divides people.”

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Dr. Kamala Sohonie (1912 - 1998)

Biochemist and the First Indian Woman to Earn a PhD in a Scientific Discipline

Dr. Kamala Sohonie paved the way for women studying science in India and across the world. She was the first woman to work as a researcher at the Indian Institute of Science and the first Indian woman to complete a PhD in a scientific discipline.

Her research into the nutrition of common food groups improved the health of malnourished people in India, particularly pregnant women and children.

“The bias against women was so bad at that time. What can one expect if even a Nobel Laureate behaves in such a way?” -Dr Kamala Sohonie, discussing the way she was treated by Professor C. V. Raman whilst working at the Indian Institute of Science.

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Maryam Mirzakhani (1977 - 2014)

Fields Medal Winner, Mathematician, Professor

Maryam Mirzakhani was an Iranian mathematician who became the first woman and first Iranian to be awarded the high honor of a Fields Medal, the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in the field of mathematics. As a paragon of intellectualism, raw talent, and humility, she is an icon to many aspiring mathematicians as well as a pioneer in the fields of hyperbolic geometry, dynamics, and more.

She was a professor of mathematics at both Princeton and Stanford University. She conducted research on Teichmüller theory, hyperbolic theory, and rational billboards. Her famous career in academia has made invaluable contributions to the field of mathematics and society at large.

“I don’t believe that everyone should become a mathematician, but I do believe that many students don’t give mathematics a real chance.” -Maryam Mirzakhani

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Ruby Hirose (1904 - 1960)

Japanese American Biochemist

Ruby Hirose was a biochemist who pioneered the development of a vaccine to treat polio/infantile paralysis. She contributed to research on pollen extractions in the mid-1900s.

As the daughter of Japanese immigrants, Hirose faced discrimination throughout her life in America. Hirose’s family was sent to Japanese internment camps during World War II, but she was able to avoid being sent to these camps due to being in a different location than her family.

She became one of the ten women that the American Chemical Society invited to a convention of 300 members. Despite undergoing hardships throughout her life, Hirose developed important research regarding polio and furthered developments within medicine.

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Mae Jemison (1956 - Present)

First African American Female Astronaut and Professor

Mae Jemison is a highly accomplished African-American professor and astronaut. She attended Stanford University and Cornell University, where she studied chemical engineering and received her doctorate respectively.

She then became the first African-American woman to enter space as a NASA astronaut. In space, Mae conducted experiments on two bone cells, learning about what factors cause bone loss. After retiring from NASA, she became a professor at Dartmouth College. Today, she continues to advance her and others’ knowledge of medicine through her works with the World Sickle Cell Foundation and Center for Prevention of Childhood Malnutrition.

“Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations...If you adopt their attitudes, then the possibility won't exist because you'll have already shut it out ... You can hear other people's wisdom, but you've got to re-evaluate the world for yourself.” - Mae Jemison

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Margaret Hamilton (1936 - Present)

American Computer Scientist

Margaret Hamilton is an American computer scientist, software engineer, and business owner who created the software that successfully sent humans to the moon. As a pioneer in the field of computer science, she is credited in coining the term “software engineering,” Hamilton has received numerous awards along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. Hamilton’s work remains influential still to this day as she is an example of female success in STEM in a time where women were not seen as capable of doing well in fields dominated by men.

“Don’t let fear get in the way and don’t be afraid to say ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I don’t understand’—no question is a dumb question.” -Margaret Hamilton.

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Rosalind Franklin (1920 - 1958)

Chemist and X-Ray Crystallographer

Rosalind Elsie Franklin was an English chemist who earned her Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Cambridge University. She applied her knowledge of physical chemistry and crystallography to research deciphering the structure of DNA. DNA was known to be a biological molecule at the time, but very little was known about its structure or function.

Franklin began working as a research associate at King’s College in London in 1951, where she applied her expertise in X-ray crystallography to DNA fibres. Around 1953, she and her graduate student, Raymond Gosling, took a photograph that would irrevocably change the course of history, science, and medicine. Named “Photo 51,” the image clearly showed the helical structure of DNA.

Most notable for her revolutionary photograph, Rosalind Franklin also made important contributions to the fields of coal research and virology. Her data allowed for James Watson and Francis Crick to better understand the structure of DNA molecules, and in fact, she came to the same conclusions as they did. Her colleague, Maurice Wilkins, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine along with Watson and Crick, however, she had passed away at the time and was never recognized for her work.

Franklin once said “science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated,” and she lived by that—she worked every day until her death.


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Lucy Hobbs Taylor (1833 - 1910)

American Dentist and Advocate for Women

Dr. Lucy Hobbs Taylor was the first woman in America to graduate from dental school and receive a doctorate in dentistry. She was turned away numerous times solely due to the fact that she was a woman, but she never let herself be discouraged. Instead, she actively pursued every opportunity she could. She was an inspiration and advocate for women in dentistry. She was also a devoted supporter of women’s rights and the women’s suffrage movement.

“People were amazed when they learned that a young girl had so far forgotten her womanhood as to want to study dentistry.” -Dr. Lucy Hobbs Taylor


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Dr. Sivaramakrishna Iyer Padmavati (1917 - 2000)

Cardiology Pioneer

Referred to as the “Goddess of Cardiology,” Dr. Sivaramakrishna Iyer Padmavati is a pioneer in cardiology who transformed the field at a time when there were very few cardiologists, much less women. She has lived and studied in Myanmar, England, Switzerland, America, and India. She expanded the knowledge of cardiovascular diseases and preventive measures in India and has left a lasting legacy as India’s first and oldest female cardiologist, one that enabled many others to follow her path and pursue cardiology. In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded the two highest honors given to a citizen in India: the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan.

Dr. Padmavati and her fellow researchers were responsible for the discovery of the extent of the harmful health effects that cooking smoke had on the lungs of many Indian citizens in rural areas.

“I pursued cardiology because there were very few courses available to women when I went to college, unlike today” -Dr. Sivaramakrishna Iyer Padmavati


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Lin Qiaozhi (1901 - 1983)

OB-GYN, Researcher, “The Mother of a Thousand Babies,” and “Angel of Life”

As a Chinese obstetrician and gynecologist at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Lin Qiaozhi conducted research on numerous neonatal diseases and disorders. Lin became the first woman in China to be appointed director of a hospital department of obstetrics and gynecology. Lin delivered over 50,000 babies in her medical career. She never got married and never had children of her own, but tagged every newborn as “Lin Qiaozhi’s Baby” on their name tags.

Dr. Lin became well-known and loved by Chinese people, from Premier Zhou Enlai to the local people. In fact, she was called a “living Buddha” by numerous patients, many of whom named their babies for her. After an illness left her bedridden, Lin wanted to create a research center. This proposal was later approved and a research institute was established within the Chinese Academy of Medical Science.

"I'd rather stay single to study all my life!” -Lin Qiaozhi


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Hedy Lamarr (1914 - 2000)

Austrian-American Actress and Inventor

During the 1940s, Hedy helped support the Allied powers through her fame and innovations. Her invention of frequency hopping helped to develop weapon systems, Bluetooth, and Wifi.

Renowned as the Mother of Bluetooth and Wifi, she was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.

“Hope and curiosity about the future seemed better than guarantees. The unknown was always so attractive to me and still is.” - Hedy Lamarr


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Marion Bills (1890 - 1970)

Industrial and Organizational Psychologist

Marion Bills was one of the first women pioneers in psychology. She was known for her work in industrial/organizational psychology during the first half of the 20th century. Upon receiving her PhD in experimental psychology, she taught at universities such as University of Kansas and Miami University.

Bills conducted extensive research in personnel psychology and published her works in prestigious scientific and nonacademic journals. She was awarded and recognized by several professional societies. She served as a board committee member at American Association of Applied Psychology and the first female president at APA’s division 14. Despite the societal norms of marriage and women becoming housewives during her time, Marion Bills was never married and devoted her time to research.


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Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi (1865 - 1887)

First Female Indian Physician

Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi was the first female Indian physician. She immigrated to the United States to study Western medicine and graduated with a degree. She was contacted directly by Queen Victoria, the empress of India at the time, who wrote her a congratulatory message for setting an example for millions of women in India to pursue a higher education. She received a grand welcome when she returned to India, and the editor of the newspaper Kesari praised her as “one of the greatest women of our modern era.” In 1997, the International Astronomical Union named one of the craters on Venus after her - “Joshee.”

“Be grateful for challenges because... Had there been no difficulties and no thorns in the way, then [each woman and] man would have been in his primitive state and no progress made in civilisation and mental culture.” -Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi


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Clara Barton (1821 - 1912)

Founder of the Red Cross, Nurse, Teacher, Patent Clerk, Women’s Rights Activist, Founder of National First Aid Association

In the Civil War, Clara Barton passed through battle lines and distributed supplies, looked for missing people, and helped wounded soldiers. After the Civil War, Barton traveled to Europe where she was introduced to the Red Cross, and founded the United States branch of the organization, where she served as president for 23 years.

Barton changed how women were able to help in the medical field and was recognized for her efforts by President Abraham Lincoln. She fought hard for women’s suffrage and believed that “the right to her own property, her own children, her own home, her just individual claim before the law, to her freedom of action, to her personal liberty” was important for all women. She delivered speeches educating others on women’s rights and worked alongside female activists.

“You glorify the women who made their way to the front to reach you in your misery, and nurse you back to life. You called us angels. Who opened the way for women to go and make it possible? … For every woman’s hand that ever cooled your fevered brows, staunched your bleeding wounds, gave food to your famished bodies, or water to your parching lips, and called back life to your perishing bodies, you should bless God for Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frances D. Gage and their followers.” - Clara Barton, 1882


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Gladys West (1930 - Present)

Mathematician, Programmer, and GPS Development Pioneer

Gladys West is an American mathematician who performed calculations for U.S. military satellites and programmed a computer to model Earth’s shape with unprecedented precision. Her work for the American government throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s laid the foundation for what eventually became modern Global Positioning System (GPS) technology that is used around the world.

Born in 1930 in rural Virginia, Gladys West worked hard to pursue an education to leave the sharecropping community where she was born. She earned a scholarship to attend Virginia State University and later worked at the Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia, becoming the second Afrian American woman to ever work there. In 2018 at the age of 87, West was inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame for her contributions to the invention of GPS.

“When you’re working every day, you’re not thinking, ‘What impact is this going to have on the world?’ You’re thinking, ‘I’ve got to get this right.’” -Gladys West


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Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte (1865 - 1915)

Physician and Equity Activist

Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte was the first female Native American to obtain a medical degree. As a young girl, she witnessed a white doctor refusing to treat a sick person due to their Native American ethnicity. This issue motivated her to become the remarkable doctor she was. Dr. Picotte spread her influence upon her tribe on the Omaha Reservation by being the only physician for 1,350 miles and never turning down anyone regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or age.

Towards the end of her life, in 1913, Dr. Picotte fulfilled her dream of opening her own hospital in the reservation town of Walthill, Nebraska.

“It was only an Indian and it did not matter. The doctor preferred hunting for prairie chickens rather than visiting poor, suffering humanity.” -Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte


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Sara Josephine Baker (1873 - 1945)

Physician, Feminist, and Public Health Reformist

Sara Josephine Baker was the first woman to ever hold an executive health position in the United States. Despite facing prejudice from being a female physician within a male-dominated field, Baker persevered and became extremely successful in improving sanitation and public health in New York City. In addition, she revolutionized infant care, drastically reducing infant mortality.

“Sick people need immediate help, understanding, and humanity almost as much as they need highly standardized and efficient practice.” -Sara Josephine Baker


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Henrietta Lacks (1920 - 1951)

Tobacco Farmer and Medical Pioneer

Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer in 1951. She was treated at Johns Hopkins University, where a few cells from her cervix were sampled and given to doctors without her consent. Doctors used Lack's cells in his cancer research in which they discovered that her cells were immortal, meaning they could be kept alive and grow indefinitely.

For the past 70 years, Lacks’s cells have been used to make huge advancements in science and medicine. However, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding her cells due to lack of consent and awareness leading to debates over what rights individuals have in regards to their genetic material and tissue.

“Henrietta’s were different: they reproduced an entire generation every twenty-four hours, and they never stopped. They became the first immortal human cells ever grown in a laboratory.” - Rebecca Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks


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Vera Rubin (1928 - 2016)

Astronomer and Advocate

Vera Rubin was an American astronomer who studied the orbital speeds of galaxies and discovered the presence of dark matter in the universe. She was also an advocate and inspiration for women in science.

Vera was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1981 and was awarded the National Medal of Science in 1993 by President Bill Clinton.

“There is no problem in science that can be solved by a man that cannot be solved by a woman.” -Bright Galaxies, Dark Matters by Vera Rubin


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