Honouring women in STEM
Welcome to the STEMinist page, a tribute to the trailblazing women who defied norms and left an indelible mark in the world of STEM. Let's shine a spotlight on their achievements and inspire the STEMinists of tomorrow!
Ada Lovelace
First Computer Programmer 1815-1852
Born to the poet Lord Byron and Anne Isabella Milbanke, Ada showed a keen interest in mathematics from a young age. She collaborated with mathematician Charles Babbage on his proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Ada's notes on the engine included an algorithm intended for processing complex numbers, making her the world's first computer programmer. Her visionary insights extended beyond Babbage's original concept, foreseeing the potential for computers to manipulate more than just numbers. Ada Lovelace's significant contributions to the field of computing have earned her the title of the "first computer programmer"
Marie Curie
Only person to have received Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields 1867 - 1934
Marie Skłodowska Curie was a pioneering physicist and chemist, renowned for her groundbreaking contributions to the fields of radioactivity and nuclear physics. Born in Warsaw, Poland, Curie moved to Paris to pursue her scientific education. She became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have received Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. In 1903, she, along with her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on radioactivity. In 1911, she received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery of radium and polonium, further demonstrating her exceptional understanding of atomic structure. Despite facing gender-related obstacles, Marie Curie's tenacity and scientific brilliance laid the groundwork for advancements in medical treatment, nuclear physics, and our understanding of the fundamental nature of matter.
Katherine Johnson
One of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist 1918 - 2020
Katherine Johnson was a pioneering mathematician and physicist whose contributions played a crucial role in the early days of the United States space program. Born in West Virginia, Johnson demonstrated exceptional mathematical talent from a young age. In 1953, she joined NASA's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), where she calculated trajectories for numerous space missions, including the historic first American in space and the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing. Johnson's accuracy and expertise were indispensable, earning her the respect of her colleagues and breaking barriers for African-American women in science and technology. In 2015, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her pioneering work
Chien-Shiung Wu
Demonstrated the violation of the law of parity 1912-1997
Chien-Shiung Wu (1912–1997) was a Chinese-American experimental physicist whose groundbreaking work made significant contributions to the fields of nuclear physics and experimental science. Born in China, Wu moved to the United States in the 1930s to pursue her education and later became a prominent scientist. During World War II, she worked on the Manhattan Project, contributing to the development of the atomic bomb.
One of Wu's most notable achievements came in 1956 when she conducted the famous "Wu Experiment." This experiment, conducted with physicists Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang, demonstrated the violation of the law of parity in weak nuclear interactions
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin
Solved the atomic structure of molecules such as penicillin and insulin 1910-1994
Dorothy Mary Crowfoot Hodgkin (1910–1994) was a British chemist and X-ray crystallographer who made significant contributions to the understanding of the structures of important biochemical substances. Born in Egypt, Hodgkin's early education in chemistry sparked her interest in the physical and structural aspects of molecules.
Hodgkin's groundbreaking work in X-ray crystallography enabled her to determine the three-dimensional structures of several biochemical compounds, including penicillin, vitamin B12, and insulin. Her determination of the structure of insulin was particularly significant and earned her the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964, making her the third woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Hypatia of Alexandria
Was a prominent mathematician, philosopher, and astronomer in ancient Alexandria, Egypt 360 - 415 CE
Hypatia was the daughter of the mathematician Theon .She is famous for being the greatest mathematician and astronomer of her time, for being the leader of the Neoplatonist school of philosophy in Alexandria, for spectacularly overcoming the profound sexism of her society, and for suffering a violent death at the hands of ignorant zealots.
Mary Anning
Fossil collector, dealer, and self-taught paleontologist
Mary Anning (1799–1847) was a pioneering English fossil collector, dealer, and self-taught paleontologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of prehistoric life. Born in Lyme Regis, a coastal town in England, Anning spent much of her life fossil hunting along the cliffs of the Jurassic Coast.
Anning's discoveries included the first complete Ichthyosaur skeleton in 1811, followed by the first complete Plesiosaur skeleton in 1823. Her findings played a crucial role in the early understanding of extinct reptiles and marine life, challenging prevailing scientific beliefs of the time.
Despite facing social and gender barriers in the scientific community, Mary Anning's work attracted the attention of prominent scientists, including Richard Owen and Henry De la Beche.
Jane Goodall
She is considered the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees. 1934 - present
Jane Goodall, born on April 3, 1934, in London, is a pioneering primatologist, ethologist, and conservationist who has dedicated her life to the study and preservation of chimpanzees. Renowned for her groundbreaking work at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, Goodall fundamentally altered our understanding of animal behavior. In the early 1960s, she immersed herself in the wild, closely observing and documenting the intricate social structures and tool-making abilities of wild chimpanzees. Her remarkable insights challenged long-held beliefs about the uniqueness of human beings.