Women at the Edge of Discovery: 40 True Science Adventures - AMIT

296 Pages·2007·1.95 MB·English

Women at the
Edge of Discovery:
40 True Science
Adventures
KENDALL HAVEN
LIBRARIES UNLIMITED
Women at the Edge
of Discovery

Women at the
Edge of Discovery
40 True Science Adventures
KENDALL HAVEN
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Haven, Kendall F.
Women at the edge of discovery : 40 true science adventures / Kendall Haven.
p. cm.
Includes index.
ISBN 1–59158–015–3 (alk. paper)
1. Women scientists—Biography. 2. Science—History—20th century. I. Title.
Q141.H368 2003
509.2'2—dc21 2003054570
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.
Copyright © 2003 by Kendall Haven
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, by any process or technique, without the
express written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2003054570
ISBN: 1–59158–015–3
First published in 2003
Libraries Unlimited, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
A Member of the Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
www.lu.com
Printed in the United States of America
The paper used in this book complies with the
Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National
Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
This book is dedicated to the thousands of women who loved the sciences so
much they forced their way into science schools, science jobs, and science
careers, opening the doors of science to all women who followed. Women pio-
neers of science undertook the greatest adventure of all.

Contents
Foreword xi
Introduction xiii
Table 1 Stories by Year of Occurrence xvii
Table 2 Women Scientists by Field xix
Hide and Seek: A Science Adventure 1
Christina Allen, Rain Forest Ecologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 5
Fire and Ice: A Science Adventure 7
Marta Aznar, Volcanologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 12
Shark Bait: A Science Adventure 14
Judith Bernard, Marine Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 20
Water Logged: A Science Adventure 22
Barbara Bond, Plant Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 28
“Sound” Advice: A Science Adventure 30
Ann Bowles, Bioacoustician
Suggested Topics to Explore 36
Bold Mold: A Science Adventure 37
Rachel Fuller Brown, Biochemist
Suggested Topics to Explore 42
viii / Contents
The Stuff of “Scruff”: A Science Adventure 43
Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Astronomer
Suggested Topics to Explore 47
Deadly Sample: A Science Adventure 49
Eugenie Clark, Marine Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 55
Death Glow: A Science Adventure 56
Marie Curie, Physicist
Suggested Topics to Explore 59
Dangerous Depth Dive: A Science Adventure 61
Sylvia Earle, Marine Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 66
The Great EscAPE: A Science Adventure 68
Dian Fossey, Primatologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 73
“X” Communicated 74
Rosalind Franklin, X-Ray Crystallographer
Suggested Topics to Explore 78
Monkey Business: A Science Adventure 80
Jane Goodall, Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 84
Deadly Detection: A Science Adventure 85
Alice Hamilton, Industrial Medicine Pioneer
Suggested Topics to Explore 90
Shall We Dance? A Science Adventure 91
Janet Harrington, Insect Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 95
“Picture” Perfect: A Science Adventure 97
Dorothy Hodgkin, X-Ray Crystallographer
Suggested Topics to Explore 102
Amazing Grace: A Science Adventure 103
Grace Hopper, Mathematician/Computer Scientist
Suggested Topics to Explore 108
Cravin’Cavin’: A Science Adventure 110
Louise Hose, Speleologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 115
Contents / ix
Big Bad Wolf: A Science Adventure 117
Rose Kellman, Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 123
“Sound” Discoveries: A Science Adventure 125
Darlene Ketten, Marine Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 130
Star Light, Star Bright: A Science Adventure 131
Jane Kirkwalter, Physicist
Suggested Topics to Explore 136
Diggin’It: A Science Adventure 137
Mary Leakey, Paleontologist/Archeologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 142
Magnetic Personalities: A Science Adventure 143
Holly Lisanby, Neurological Researcher
Suggested Topics to Explore 148
The “Gravity” of the Situation: A Science Adventure 150
Shannon Lucid, Chemical/Biological Engineer
Suggested Topics to Explore 155
“Sowing” Lesson: A Science Adventure 157
Barbara McClintock, Geneticist
Suggested Topics to Explore 161
“Call” of the Wild: A Science Adventure 163
Karen McComb, Field Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 167
Ta-lo-fa to You: A Science Adventure 169
Margaret Mead, Anthropologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 173
A “Splitting” Headache: A Science Adventure 175
Lise Meitner, Physicist
Suggested Topics to Explore 179
African Call: A Science Adventure 181
Cynthia Moss, Field Biologist
Suggested Topics to Explore 185
River Rescue: A Science Adventure 187
Ruth Patrick, River Ecologist (Limnologist)
Suggested Topics to Explore 193