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Women in Science

History of Science

Kono Yasui: A Pioneer for Women in Science, Breaking Barriers and Inspiring Generations

by Rosa
written by Rosa

Kono Yasui: Breaking Barriers for Women in Japanese Science

Early Life and Education

Kono Yasui, born in 1870, grew up in a supportive environment that encouraged her intellectual curiosity. Her parents instilled in her the belief that she was equal to men, and she excelled in her studies. Despite the limited educational opportunities for girls in Japan at the time, Yasui found ways to pursue her passion for science. She attended Kagawa Prefecture Normal School and then Tokyo Women’s Higher Normal School (TWHNS), where she became the first woman to publish in a Japanese science journal.

Scientific Research

After graduating from TWHNS, Yasui embarked on her own research in plant cytology. She conducted groundbreaking studies on the life cycle of water ferns and published her findings in prestigious international journals. Despite facing skepticism and discrimination as a woman in science, Yasui persevered and made significant contributions to the field. She discovered six ancient plant species, including a species of Sequoia.

Challenges and Compromises

Yasui’s path as a female scientist was not without challenges. She had to overcome deeply embedded cultural assumptions that women were not capable of scientific success. To gain support for her overseas studies, she agreed to add “research in home economics” to her area of study and to remain unmarried. These compromises reflected the gendered expectations of the time, but Yasui refused to let them define her.

Doctoral Degree and Career

In 1927, Tokyo Imperial University awarded Yasui a doctoral degree in science, making her the first Japanese woman to earn a PhD in the field. She continued her research and teaching at TWHNS, where she became a respected professor. Yasui advocated for women’s higher education and played a key role in establishing TWHNS as a national research university for women.

Ambivalence and Legacy

Yasui’s views on how to achieve gender equality were complex. While she campaigned for women-centered research institutions, she rejected the idea of women-only scientific societies. She believed that such groups reinforced the notion that women’s work was inferior. Yasui’s ambivalence was likely influenced by her own experiences, in which she had achieved success by rejecting traditional Japanese standards for women.

Despite her conflicting ideas, Yasui’s legacy is one of empowerment for women in science. She broke ground in both research and teaching, inspiring future generations of female scientists. Her contributions to the field of plant cytology and her efforts to promote women’s education paved the way for a more inclusive and equitable scientific community in Japan.

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Women in Science

Celebrating Women in Science: Breaking Barriers and Inspiring the Next Generation

by Rosa
written by Rosa

Women in Science: Breaking Barriers and Inspiring Futures

Women have made significant contributions to science, yet their achievements are often overlooked. From discovering the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to coining the term “computer bug,” women have been instrumental in shaping our understanding of the world.

The Gender Gap in Science

Despite their contributions, women continue to face challenges in science. Studies have shown that women are less likely to receive excellent recommendation letters, be chosen to review articles, and hold full professorships compared to men. Persistent pay inequality, a lack of role models, and unconscious bias in hiring contribute to this gender gap.

Representation Matters

Representation is crucial for inspiring future generations and challenging stereotypes. Projects like “Beyond Curie” aim to elevate the visibility of women in STEM fields by creating illustrations and sharing their stories. These initiatives remind us that science is not just for men and showcase the extraordinary achievements of women from diverse backgrounds.

The Power of Design

Design can play a powerful role in promoting visibility and inspiring action. The “Beyond Curie” illustrations use bold colors and strong lines to capture the attention and convey the human side of science. By featuring the women’s faces, the project emphasizes the importance of recognizing the individuals behind the discoveries.

Beyond Curie: Celebrating Women in STEM

Launched during Women’s History Month, “Beyond Curie” celebrates 16 Nobel Prize winners and 16 other pioneering women in STEM. Each illustration depicts the woman’s portrait alongside images and design elements related to her groundbreaking work.

Katherine Johnson: The Human Computer

Katherine Johnson’s calculations were critical to the success of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Her illustration shows her bending intently over her work, with the number 11 inscribed with the word “apollo” rising triumphantly behind her.

Françoise Barré-Sinoussi: Discovering HIV

Françoise Barré-Sinoussi’s discovery of HIV led to a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Her illustration features the virus she discovered, represented by stylized images on a vibrant purple background.

Chien-Shiung Wu: Challenging Physics

Chien-Shiung Wu’s experiments challenged the assumption that nature is symmetrical at the subatomic level. Her illustration shows her looking confidently at the viewer, flanked by symbols that hint at her groundbreaking work.

Inspiring the Next Generation

The “Beyond Curie” project aims to inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers and remind everyone that extraordinary women have made significant contributions to science. By showcasing their stories and achievements, the project helps to break down stereotypes and create a more inclusive scientific community.

The March for Science

Six illustrations from “Beyond Curie” have been featured as posters for the March for Science, which advocates for science funding, celebrates its achievements, and encourages future generations of researchers. The posters carry the message that science should be accessible and inclusive for all, regardless of gender or background.

A Legacy of Empowerment

The “Beyond Curie” illustrations and the stories they tell serve as a powerful reminder of the role women have played and continue to play in science. They inspire us to recognize their achievements, challenge gender bias, and create a more equitable and inclusive future for science and technology.

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Natural History

Beatrix Potter: Amateur Mycologist and Pioneering Naturalist | Unveiling the Hidden World of Fungi

by Rosa
written by Rosa

Beatrix Potter: Amateur Mycologist and Pioneering Naturalist

Beatrix Potter’s Mycological Observations

Beatrix Potter, renowned for her beloved children’s tales featuring Peter Rabbit and his furry friends, was also a keen amateur mycologist with a deep fascination for the world of fungi. Her meticulous observations and watercolor illustrations of fungi and lichens contributed significantly to the field of mycology.

Potter’s scientific paper on spore germination showcased her sharp intellect and inquisitiveness. However, as a woman in the Victorian era, she faced significant gender bias that hindered her pursuit of a scientific career. Despite these setbacks, Potter’s passion for mycology found expression in her artistic endeavors.

The Influence of Victorian Science on Beatrix Potter’s Work

The biases prevalent in Victorian era science had a profound impact on Beatrix Potter’s life and work. As Rudolf Schmid suggests in his paper, “Bamboozled by botany, Beatrix bypasses bigoted biology, begins babying bountiful bunnies,” Potter’s exclusion from the scientific community may have influenced her decision to focus on writing and illustration.

Curiously, fungi rarely feature prominently in Potter’s tales, despite her extensive knowledge of the subject. Instead, they often appear as decorative or whimsical elements, such as the field mushrooms in “The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin.”

The Role of Amateur Mycologists in Scientific Research

Amateur mycologists, like Beatrix Potter, have played a vital role in the advancement of mycology. They pioneered the study of fungi and the practice of mycophagy, the consumption of mushrooms. Potter’s observations and illustrations provided valuable insights into the diversity and ecology of fungi.

The Symbolic Connection between Botany and Potter’s Children’s Tales

Rudolf Schmid draws an intriguing parallel between Potter’s exclusion from botany and the expulsion of Peter Rabbit from Mr. McGregor’s garden in “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” This suggests that Potter’s personal experiences with prejudice may have influenced the themes of her stories.

The Culinary Significance of Field Mushrooms in Beatrix Potter’s Tales

Field mushrooms, a common species collected by squirrels, hold culinary significance in Potter’s tales. They are depicted as having a “nasty smell” but a “good flavour,” and they laid the groundwork for cultivated mushrooms and Heinz ketchup. This subtle inclusion of food highlights Potter’s keen observation of the natural world.

The Importance of Fostering a Sense of Wonder and Curiosity about the Natural World

Beatrix Potter’s observations of fungi and her passion for the natural world serve as a testament to the importance of fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity in children. Her stories encourage young readers to look beyond the familiar and appreciate the beauty and diversity of the natural world.

Despite the decline of animal characters in contemporary Caldecott Award-winning picture books, Potter’s tales remain a timeless reminder of the enchantment and wonder that can be found in the natural world.

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Biology

The Deadly Feather Trade: How Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall Saved America’s Birds

by Rosa
written by Rosa

The Deadly Feather Trade: How Two Women Saved America’s Birds

The Plume Trade: A Fashionable Cruelty

In the late 19th century, the fashion for feathered hats led to a devastating trade in bird feathers. Hunters killed and skinned mature birds, leaving orphaned hatchlings to starve or be eaten by crows. The main drivers of the plume trade were millinery centers in New York and London, which consumed feathers from hundreds of thousands of birds each year. Egrets, with their brilliant white plumage, were particularly targeted.

Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall: Crusader

In 1896, two Boston socialites, Harriet Hemenway and her cousin Minna Hall, launched a revolt against the plume trade. Hemenway, a passionate amateur naturalist, was horrified by the slaughter of birds. She enlisted the help of Hall, and together they launched a series of tea parties at which they urged their friends to stop wearing feathered hats.

The Birth of the Audubon Society

Hemenway and Hall’s boycott was a success, and they soon organized the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Audubon societies formed in more than a dozen states, and their federation would eventually be called the National Audubon Society. The Audubon Society played a key role in lobbying for legislation to protect birds.

Landmark Laws: The Lacey Act and the Weeks-McLean Law

In 1900, Congress passed the Lacey Act, which prohibited the transport across state lines of birds taken in violation of state laws. However, the law was poorly enforced, and the plume trade continued to thrive.

In 1913, the Weeks-McLean Law, sponsored by Massachusetts Representative John Weeks and Connecticut Senator George McLean, effectively ended the plume trade. The law outlawed market hunting and forbade interstate transport of birds.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

After a series of inconclusive court challenges to the Weeks-McLean Law, the Supreme Court upheld the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This landmark legislation declared that the protection of birds was in the “national interest” and gave the federal government authority to regulate the hunting and transport of migratory birds.

The Legacy of Hemenway and Hall

The efforts of Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall played a pivotal role in the protection of birds in the United States. Their boycott of the plume trade raised awareness of the devastating effects of the fashion industry on bird populations. The Audubon Society they founded continues to be a leading advocate for bird conservation today.

The Importance of Bird Conservation

Birds play a vital role in the ecosystem. They pollinate plants, disperse seeds, and control pests. The loss of bird populations can have a ripple effect on the entire food chain.

The conservation efforts of the early 20th century helped to protect many bird species from extinction. However, birds continue to face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. It is more important than ever to support bird conservation and ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures.

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