Women in Science – Curie, Elion, Lovelace, Mead, Mitchell

Introduction: Women in Science – Curie, Elion, Lovelace, Mead, Mitchell

There are many ways that people show others the way, both directly and indirectly. And, many people have allowed others to stand on their shoulders, sometimes even without knowing, simply by teaching others what they know or by documenting their observations, thoughts, insights and discoveries for others to read. Women in Science – On the Shoulders of Giantsintroduces you to female scientists:

Marie Curie, a research scientist

Gertrude Belle Elion, a biochemist

Ada Lovelace, first computer programmer

Margaret Mead, anthropologist and researcher

Maria Mitchell, astronomer

A quick way for us to stand on the shoulders of giants like these women is to examine what’s been done before by reading about, and listening to their experiences. You never know what bright idea you could come across, or what problem could be solved because the time is right and the technology now exists.

A few of the great thinkers who made discoveries, and/or created products that influenced/changed the world, had the unique knack to do many of the following:

• Reflect
• Open to experiment
• Keep record of research
• Steely determination: impossible was not an answer
• Open minded
• Childlike sense of play
• Curious
• Voracious reader
• Read/study broadly
• Observe, detect and collect facts
• Think independently
• Take breaks to reenergize
• Total absorption in subject
• Have imagination
• Have vision
• Didn’t reinvent the wheel – built on present and past knowledge
• Look at the limitations of old inventions and devise a solution
• Modify present technologies for other uses
• Make connections between two different things
• Combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills
• Pay attention to detail
• Give vital ideas the opportunity to take root and grow

You will see many of the traits in Women in Science – On the Shoulders of Giants, and you will also see how these five women succeeded despite the challenges that they faced in their lives. They succeeded because they mastered the fundamentals in their fields and then built on them; collaborated with others; recognized that life is more than about them and worked for the greater good; demonstrated that persistence pays; and had the curiosity of a child.

We look at women in science Marie Curie, Gertrude Belle Elion, Ada Lovelace, Margaret Mead, and Maria Mitchell, astronomer. Marie Curie was the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize, the first person to be awarded two, and the only person to receive a Nobel Prizes in two different sciences. She discovered the element radium and she also coined the word radioactivity.

Curie’s parents instilled in her the importance of getting an education. At the time, girls were not allowed to attend university in Russian-controlled Poland. Curie got around that by attending the University of Paris. This was no small feat since she had to study in a language that wasn’t her own. To prepare for university, she had to work as a governess. While working full time as a governess, Curie carved out the time to study, as well as to teach the poor neighbourhood children.

Gertrude Belle Elion was the first person, who was not a medical doctor, or who didn’t possess a doctorate degree, who was awarded a Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.  Before Elion could get into her field, she had to start her career instructing high school and nursing students, and volunteer at a chemistry laboratory.

Ada Lovelace had the curiosity of a child, and communicated with other scientists so that she could learn from them. She had a brilliant mind and often outgrew her tutors. Lovelace’s most important work, which was writing the first computer program demonstrates that she had a solid understanding of her field – she mastered the fundamentals and then built on that.

Despite being uprooted so much when she was young – moving 60 times before she was 11 years old, Margaret Mead was considered Grandmother of the World. Once again, this woman in science mastered the fundamentals and had a zest for knowledge. She was also open to new ways of doing things, and easily adapted her approach when her third husband introduced her to using more scientific rigor when conducting research.

Maria Mitchell was a scientist who made use of the opportunities that presented themselves to her. The training she got from working under the tutelage of her father prepared her for future employment. When Mitchell was asked to act as chaperone she said yes, because she knew it was the perfect opportunity for her to meet European scientists.

Workbook 

1. Take the time to discover the type of work you were meant to do. What makes your heart sing a joyful song? What would you do even if you were not getting paid for it?
2. Research others who are making money in the field, and find a niche for yourself. Conduct 15-minute interviews with them to discover how they got where they are. Most people are willing to share their knowledge.
3. What do Marie Curie, Gertrude Belle Elion, Ada Lovelace, Margaret Mead, and  Maria Mitchell have in common? What common traits do you see among them? Strive to identify at least five. Which of those traits do you possess, and how has it served you so far in life?
4. Now that you have read all five profiles, in what ways can you invent a path for yourself?
5. Why are these women still relevant today; and why should we read their stories?
6. Which of these five women is most like you? Why do you say that?
7. Because of the age in which they lived, these five women faced incredible challenges, yet they rose above them. Curie won two Nobel Prizes in two different sciences, Elion won a Nobel Prize, Lovelace is the first computer programmer and has a day named after her, Mitchell has a comet named after her, and Mead was known as Grandmother to the World. What ways can you use these women as examples to empower you to rise above the challenges you face in your life?
8. If these women lived today, would they be more or less successful and why do you say that?
9. As a result of learning about these women:

1. What are your five key takeaways?
2. What have you discovered about yourself?
3. What will you do differently from now on?

10. Think about a major obstacle that you are facing in life and find at least one solution that will eliminate it. How can you work around the obstacle so that it becomes irrelevant?
11. Look at the process you use to get your job done, think of ways to improve the process and make it more efficient. Is there a way to eliminate a step or combine steps? Also, is there a way to do your work in a more cost-effective manner? Look at some common assumptions that are made around you, perhaps in the way work gets done, how about if you turned those assumptions upside down, what would happen?
12. Who do you know who you can work collaboratively with – whose skills complements yours?

 Who Was Marie Curie? Marie Curie's Search for Radium (Science Stories) Gertrude Belle Elion Quotes 5 – Canvas Art Print Gertrude Belle Elion Quotes 4 – Canvas Art Print Ada Lovelace, Poet of Science: The First Computer Programmer Ada Byron Lovelace and the Thinking Machine Coming of Age: The Sexual Awakening of Margaret Mead Margaret Mead: A Life Maria Mitchell: The Soul of an Astronomer Maria Mitchell and the Sexing of Science: An Astronomer Among the American Romantics Maria Mitchell (Great Women in History)