The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed on February 11th of each year to honour the vital contribution that women and girls play in the disciplines of science and technology throughout the globe. The significance of gender equality and female empowerment in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) is brought to light on this day. It's a moment to recognise the accomplishments of female scientists, dismantle obstacles in their path, and motivate upcoming generations of female scientists.
Despite tremendous advancements throughout time, women and girls still encounter many obstacles in the scientific community. For many people, the path to success in STEM can be difficult due to institutional support, lack of representation, and implicit bias and stereotypes. But it's important to recognise the tenacity and will of women who have overcome these challenges and opened the path for others to follow.
Here are 5 women of the world who have excelled in the field of science for years:
- Ada Lovelace, Mathematician Dec. 10, 1815-Nov. 27, 1852: Lovelace, who lived long before the creation of contemporary computers, is recognised as the original computer programmer. The earliest known computer algorithm is thought to have been created by her notes on Charles Babbage's planned analytical engine, a programmable general-purpose computer.
- Marie Curie, Physicist and Chemist Nov. 7, 1867-July 4, 1934: The two most notable of Curie's numerous accomplishments is the discovery of radioactivity and the creation of a transportable X-ray machine used in the First World War. Curie and her husband Pierre discovered radium and polonium, two radioactive elements, and created methods for separating radioactive isotopes. Curie was the first female Nobel laureate in 1903. She became the first person to get two awards, first in chemistry and then in physics, and she went on to become one of the most respected women in science.
- Dr. Indira Hinduja: Dr. Indira Hinduja is an Indian gynaecologist, obstetrician, and infertility specialist who received her doctorate in "Human In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer" from Bombay University. She invented the Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) technique, which led to the birth of the country's first GIFT baby on January 4, 1988. Previous to this, she delivered India’s first test-tube baby at KEM Hospital on August 6, 1986. She is also recognised for creating an oocyte donation method for individuals suffering from menopause and premature ovarian failure. On January 24, 1991, the nation's first baby was born using this method.
- Janaki Ammal 1897-1984: In 1977, Ammal became the first scientist from India to be awarded the Padma Shri Award. She then held the esteemed position of director-general at the Botanical Survey of India. In the 1900s, Ammal took up botany, which was an unusual choice for women. In 1921, she graduated with honours in botany from the Presidency College. Her areas of scientific interest were phytogeography, which studies the geographic distribution of plant species, and cytogenetics, a branch of genetics that studies how chromosomes might connect to cell activity. Ammal is best known for his research on brinjal and sugarcane.
- Dorothy Hodgkin: When Dorothy Hodgkin, a British chemist, discovered crystals when she was ten years old, she developed an early fascination with science. She studied chemistry and X-ray crystallography while an undergraduate in England. This choice paid off, as she could utilise the technique to identify the atomic structures of biomolecules such as insulin, B12, and penicillin—a significant advance in the treatment of diabetes. She also treated World War I troops with X-ray technology. What's perhaps even more remarkable is that she worked despite dealing with the side effects of rheumatoid arthritis, which she first had when she was a young lady.
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