This compilation explores in depth the lives and achievements of fifteen remarkable women chemists and biochemists whose stories deserve to be widely known. Although women's contributions to science are increasingly being recognized, many still remain in the shadows. This book brings these accomplishments to light, celebrating figures such as Eunice Foote, who first discovered the greenhouse effect, and Alice Ball, a pioneering African-American chemist whose work was integral to the development of an effective treatment for leprosy. For each of the fifteen profiles, the authors draw extensively on contemporary sources, bringing each individual and her era vividly to life through a rich tapestry of quotations and historical context.
Each account follows a distinctive structure, beginning with a contextual overview that sets the scene for the individual's time and circumstances, followed by a detailed narrative of her life and scientific contributions. The chapters conclude with reflections on why these contributions were overlooked for so long – examining themes such as the Matilda effect, discovery appropriation, and premature discovery. This book offers an engaging, insightful, and deeply researched exploration of these women's lives, their lasting impact on science, and the broader story of women's place in the scientific enterprise – both past and present.
Contents:
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- About the Authors
- Feminist Chymistry Pioneer: Marie Meurdrac
- Discoverer of the Greenhouse Effect: Eunice Foote
- Organic Chemistry Pioneer: Julia Lermontova
- Collaborator of Marie Curie: Ellen Gleditsch
- Co-Discoverer of M-M Equation: Maude Menten
- Microbial Biochemist: Marjory Stephenson
- Pioneer Crystallographer: Polly Porter
- Pioneer X-Ray Crystallographer: Florence Bell
- Gas-Phase Chromatography Inventor: Erika Cremer
- Natural Products Chemist: Chika Kuroda
- Co-Discoverer of Anti-Fungal: Rachel Brown
- Synthesized a Leprosy Cure: Alice Ball
- Innovative Food Chemist: Maria Orosa
- Discoverer of Malaria Cure: Youyou Tu
- Natural Products Chemist: Marian (Cole) Addy
- Index
Readership: Researchers and students in the history of science (specifically chemistry) and gender studies; general readers interested in the history of women in science.