WOMEN IN SCIENCE: TOP 10

The contribution and participation of women in the field of science has been outstanding over the years. Their tireless contribution has meant an inexhaustible source of progress and development for humanity, besides being an inspiration for the women scientists of today.

Although putting all of them in the list is practically impossible, there have been women who printed a unique stamp thanks to their scientific contributions throughout the years, which makes them worthy of top recognition. And for those women who love science, here you will find modern ways to learn about science.

1. Hypatia

She was the first woman to make a substantial contribution to the development of mathematics. Among her works, it is said that she made astronomical maps as well as inventing the hydrometer, which is used to determine the density and gravity of a liquid. Many influential families sent their children to study with Hypatia specifically.

2. Sophie Germain

She was a French mathematician, physicist and philosopher. Sophie was known as one of the pioneers in the theory of elasticity, and her work on Fermat’s last theorem provided the basis for mathematicians who explored the subject hundreds of years later. Because of the fact that she was a woman, she could never develop as an academic in mathematics, so she always worked independently.

3. Valentina Tereshkova

She was the first woman to travel to outer space. Tereshkova, an engineer by profession, she orbit 48 times around the Earth for 71 hours. Besides being an engineer, she dedicated part of her life to Russian politics. She was selected from more than four hundred applicants and five finalists to be pilot of the ship Vostok 6, launched on June 16, 1963.

4. Marie Curie

She was the first woman to become a professor at the University of Paris and the first to win two Nobel Prizes in different specialties. The first of Physics, in the year 1903, by the discovery of radioactive elements, which she shared with Becquerel. The second one of chemistry by the discovery of the radio. She is currently an inspiration for all female scientists in the world.

5. Emmy Noether

Emmy was considered the best woman scientist in mathematics. Born in Erlangen, Germany, Noether stood out in the field of theoretical physics and abstract algebra. Her work in these areas represented great advances in the theories of rings, groups and fields. Throughout her whole life she made around 40 truly exemplary publications.

6. Barbara McClintock

She was one of the women scientists specialized in cytogenetics. McClintock studied the chromosomes of maize and how they change during reproduction. In the process, she developed a technique to visualize corn chromosomes and used microscopic analysis to demonstrate fundamental genetic ideas, including genetic recombination during meiosis. Barbara produced the first genetic map of maize, linking regions of chromosomes with physical features.

McClintock won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1983 for the discovery of genetic transposition, being the only woman to receive an award in this area.

7. Grace Hopper

She was a computer engineer from the United States, a doctorate in mathematics from Yale, and a naval officer in her country. She was the first developer of a compiler for a computer language. Grace conceptualized the idea of having computational languages that were independent of machines (that a language could be used in multiple groups), which led to the foundation of COBOL, one of the first modern programming languages. For this reason, Hopper is considered a true inspiration for women and science. For people who need help writing about these incredible women, websites like CustomWriting.com provide essay writing help.

8. Rosalind Franklin

She was an English biophysicist and crystallographer, who collaborated in the knowledge of the molecular structures of carbon and graphite, as well as DNA, RNA and viruses.

Using a technique called “X-ray diffraction”, Franklin obtained results that allowed her to discover that the DNA molecule consists of a double helix of atoms.

9. Jane Goodall

Jane was born in London, England. As a primatologist, she contributed to the education and knowledge of chimpanzees, to whom she dedicated her entire life. Jane has conducted deep scientific research on the behaviour, use of tools and ways of life of chimpanzees. In 2003, her studies were recognized by the scientific community with the Prince of Asturias Award for Scientific and Technical Research.

10. Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell was a British astrophysicist who discovered the first radio signal of a pulsar. She was born in 1943, in Belfast, Northern Ireland and her discovery was part of her own thesis. However, the recognition of this discovery was for Antony Hewish, his tutor, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974.

Thanks to Harry Southworth