If you are asked who are the greatest scientists of all time? Probably your answer will be Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, or other big names. No doubt those scientists made remarkable discoveries and changed how we understand the world. But women have played a key role in humanity’s scientific advancement though they have faced systemic barriers and gender discrimination throughout history.  Let's learn about women's accomplishments and celebrate their scientific achievements in this March-Women's History month.

10 Pioneering Women of History in Science

Ada Lovelace (Dec. 10, 1815-Nov. 27, 1852), Mathematician

Ada Lovelace was an English mathematician and writer. She was the only child of poet Lord Byron and mathematician Lady Byron and was born in England. Her father separated from her mother after a few months of her birth.  

Ada worked on Charles Babbage's proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine and so she is known to all.  She is often regarded as the first computer — long before modern computers were invented. She is also considered to be the very first computer algorithm. She married William King in 1835 with whom she had two sons.

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Marie Curie (Nov. 7, 1867-July 4, 1934), Physicist, and Chemist

Marie Curie was born in Poland. Discovering radioactivity and inventing a mobile X-ray unit that was employed during World War I were the main among her many achievements. 

With the collaboration of her husband, Pierre Curie, Marie Curie uncovered the radioactive elements polonium and radium — and developed techniques for isolating radioactive isotopes. 

She was the first woman who won a Nobel Prize in 1903 and she was also the first woman and first person who won the Nobel Prize twice in two scientific fields.

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Caroline Herschel (16 March 1750 – 9 January 1848), Astronomer

Caroline Lucretia Herschel was a German astronomer. She contributed to discovering several comets, including the periodic comet 35P/Herschel–Rigollet, which bears her name. Astronomer William Herschel was her elder brother with whom she worked throughout her career.

She was the first woman to hold a government position and received a salary as a scientist. A Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society was earned by her in 1828.

Marie-Anne Paulze Lavoisier  (20 January 1758 – 10 February 1836), Chemistry

Marie-Ann Paulze Lavoisier, the wife of the chemist and nobleman Antonie Lavoisier, was a French chemist and noblewoman. She is thought of as the mother of modern chemistry. 

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She was fluent in Latin, English, and French and so she helped translate several scientific works for her husband to review that led to the discovery of oxygen gas. 

Chien-Shiung Wu (May 31, 1912 – February 16, 1997), Physicist

Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese-American physicist. She had great contributions in the fields of nuclear and particle physics. Actually, she was a leading figure and pioneer in the field of physics. 

An amazing thing is that Wu was the first women faculty member hired in the physics department at Princeton University. In 1978 she won the inaugural Wolf Prize in Physics which brought a nickname the "First Lady of Physics." for her.

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Vera Rubin ( July 23, 1928-Dec. 25, 2016), Astronomer

An American astronomer Vera Rubin discovered the existence of dark matter. It is a wonderful glue that holds our universe together. It was one of the outstanding discoveries of the 20th century. 

Her contribution of course deserves the Nobel Prize. However, she was esteemed with various prizes like the Bruce Medal, the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, and the National Medal of Science.

Janaki Ammal (Nov. 4, 1897-Feb. 7, 1984), Botanist

Janaki Ammal is known as India’s first female plant scientist. She expanded some hybrid species that are still grown now. Besides, she contributed and advocated for protecting the biodiversity of India. 

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This Anglo-Indian botanist worked on plant breeding, cytogenetics, and phytogeography. She is famous for her notable work involving studies on sugarcane and eggplant (brinjal). In 1977, she won a Padma Shri award from the Indian government.

Flossie Wong-Staal ( August 27, 1946 – July 8, 2020), Virologist and Molecular Biologist

A Chinese-American virologist and molecular biologist, Wong-Staal is regarded as the first scientist who clones HIV. She also created a map of its genes and that led to a test for the virus. 

This test was a step in proving that HIV is the cause of AIDS. From 1990 to 2002 she researched AIDS at the  University of California, San Diego ( UCSD) holding a strong position. She was the co-founder and, after retiring from UCSD, she became the chief scientific officer of Immunol.

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Rosalind Franklin (July 25, 1920-April 16, 1958), Chemist

An English chemist and X-ray crystallographer, Rosalind Franklin discovered the double helix structure of DNA which is regarded as a revolutionary work. She also contributed to understanding the structure of RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. 

Franklin’s works on coal and viruses were valued in her lifetime but her trailblazer contributions to the discovery of the structure of DNA were largely unseen during her life. So, she is regarded as the "wronged heroine", the "dark lady of DNA '', the "forgotten heroine. After her death in 1962, her male colleagues were valued with the Nobel Prize. 

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (9 June 1836 – 17 December 1917), Physician

An English physician and suffragist Elizabeth Garrett Anderson created the way for women in medicine in Great Britain. She was the first female doctor in England and became successful by overcoming huge barriers because at that time women were not allowed to practice medicine. 

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Then she established a school of medicine for women where most of the leading positions were carried by women. She also became the first woman dean of a medical school and the first female mayor in England.

Conclusion

So far, we have highlighted some of the most notable female scientists in the history of all time. Women's contribution in different fields for ages can't be overlooked. Women always play a prominent role in science and other valuable branches for their determination, willpower, and patience. They prove that they can develop society like men. Salute to our womenfolk. We hope this path-breaker women in science will encourage many more girls to STEM.

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