Breaking Barriers: Women in Science Who Paved the Way

Women have made extraordinary contributions to science throughout history, yet they have often had to fight against systemic barriers to do so. From historical biases to modern workplace inequalities, women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) have faced numerous challenges that have hindered their full participation. Despite these obstacles, their presence in scientific fields is more important than ever.

Breaking Barriers

For centuries, scientific fields were considered the domain of men, and women who pursued science often had to work without formal recognition. Many were barred from universities and research institutions, forcing them to study and contribute in unofficial capacities. Even today, implicit biases influence hiring decisions, promotions, and research opportunities, creating an uneven playing field. Women in science often face wage gaps, receive less research funding than their male counterparts, and struggle with societal expectations around balancing family and career. Despite these obstacles, women have persevered and made groundbreaking discoveries that have shaped our world.

One such pioneer was Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win in two different scientific fields—Physics and Chemistry—for her work on radioactivity. Rosalind Franklin played a crucial role in uncovering the structure of DNA, though her contributions were largely overshadowed. Annie Easley, a mathematician and computer scientist, overcame racial and gender discrimination to contribute significantly to NASA’s space programs. More recently, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier revolutionized genetic engineering with their development of CRISPR gene-editing technology, earning them the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Representation Matters

Women bring diverse perspectives that enhance creativity and innovation in scientific research. Their contributions lead to breakthroughs in medicine, technology, and environmental science, shaping the way we understand and improve our world. A more inclusive scientific community also ensures that issues affecting all people—including women’s health—are adequately studied and addressed. For example, Tu Youyou, a Chinese scientist, discovered artemisinin, a groundbreaking malaria treatment that has saved millions of lives worldwide. Similarly, Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician, played a crucial role in calculating the trajectories for the Apollo moon landings, helping to make space exploration possible.

Women’s representation in science also drives economic growth and innovation. Studies show that diverse teams make better decisions and produce more creative solutions to complex problems. By increasing female participation in STEM, we strengthen scientific progress, create new industries, and inspire future generations of girls to pursue science. Programs aimed at encouraging young women to enter STEM fields, such as Girls Who Code and the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science initiative, help break down barriers and support the next wave of female scientists.

25 Influential Women Scientists

1. Mary Anning (1799–1847) – Pioneering Paleontologist

Anning discovered some of the most significant Jurassic fossils, including the first complete Ichthyosaurus and Plesiosaurus skeletons. Her findings contributed to early debates on extinction and evolution. Despite being excluded from scientific societies due to her gender, her work laid the foundation for modern paleontology.

2. Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) – First Computer Programmer

Lovelace worked with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine, writing what is now considered the first computer program. She foresaw that computers could process not just numbers but also symbols, influencing the future of computing. Her visionary work was largely unrecognized during her lifetime but is now celebrated in computer science.

3. Eunice Newton Foote (1819–1888) – Climate Science Pioneer

Foote was the first to identify the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide, predicting its role in climate change. Her 1856 experiments demonstrated how CO₂ trapped heat, but her work was overlooked for decades. She was also an advocate for women's rights and scientific education.

4. Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) – Founder of Modern Nursing

Nightingale revolutionized hospital sanitation and public health, drastically reducing mortality rates. She used statistical analysis to improve healthcare practices, making her a pioneer in evidence-based medicine. Her work led to major reforms in military and civilian hospitals.

5. Marie Curie (1867–1934) – Pioneer of Radioactivity

Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win in two different scientific fields (Physics and Chemistry). She discovered polonium and radium, paving the way for radiation therapy. Her research led to the development of X-rays and nuclear medicine.

6. Henrietta Leavitt (1868–1921) – Astronomer and Cosmic Distance Pioneer

Leavitt discovered the relationship between the brightness and pulsation of Cepheid variable stars, which became crucial for measuring distances in the universe. Her work enabled Edwin Hubble to prove that the universe is expanding. She received little recognition during her lifetime.

7. Lise Meitner (1878–1968) – Co-Discoverer of Nuclear Fission

Meitner and her colleagues discovered nuclear fission, which led to nuclear power and the atomic bomb. She was overlooked for the Nobel Prize, which was awarded only to her male collaborator, Otto Hahn. Despite this, she became a role model for women in physics.

8. Alice Augusta Ball (1892–1916) – Developed the First Leprosy Treatment

Ball was the first woman and first Black chemistry professor at the University of Hawaii. She created the Ball Method, an injectable leprosy treatment that became the standard therapy for decades. Tragically, she died at 24 before seeing the full impact of her work.

9. Gerty Cori (1896–1957) – Biochemist and Nobel Laureate

Cori was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her work on carbohydrate metabolism. She and her husband, Carl Cori, discovered the Cori cycle, explaining how the body converts glycogen to energy. Her work was crucial in understanding diabetes.

10. Barbara McClintock (1902–1992) – Discovered Jumping Genes

McClintock discovered transposable elements, or "jumping genes," proving that genes can move within a genome. Initially dismissed, her work was later recognized as fundamental to genetics, earning her a Nobel Prize in 1983.

11. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin (1910–1994) – X-ray Crystallography Expert

Hodgkin determined the structures of penicillin, vitamin B12, and insulin using X-ray crystallography. She won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964 and greatly advanced medicine, particularly in treating diabetes.

12. Chien-Shiung Wu (1912–1997) – Nuclear Physicist Who Proved Parity Violation

Wu’s experiments disproved the law of conservation of parity, a major breakthrough in physics. Her work was critical to the Manhattan Project, but she was overlooked when her male colleagues won the Nobel Prize.

13. Katherine Johnson (1918–2020) – NASA Mathematician

Johnson’s calculations were critical to NASA’s early space missions, including John Glenn’s orbit of Earth. She overcame racial and gender barriers to become a leader in spaceflight navigation. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

14. Rosalind Franklin (1920–1958) – DNA Structure Discoverer

Franklin’s X-ray diffraction images provided the key evidence for DNA’s double helix structure. However, Watson and Crick received the Nobel Prize, and she was largely unrecognized in her lifetime.

15. Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909–2012) – Neuroscientist Who Discovered Nerve Growth Factor

She made a breakthrough in neurobiology by discovering nerve growth factor (NGF), which earned her a Nobel Prize in 1986. Her research advanced our understanding of the nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases.

16. Rachel Carson (1907–1964) – Environmental Science Pioneer

Carson’s book Silent Spring (1962) exposed the dangers of pesticides, particularly DDT, and launched the modern environmental movement. Her work led to the creation of the EPA and the banning of DDT in the U.S.

17. Vera Rubin (1928–2016) – Provided Evidence for Dark Matter

Rubin’s research on galaxy rotation curves provided the strongest evidence for the existence of dark matter. Her work reshaped astrophysics, but she was controversially denied a Nobel Prize.

18. Annie Easley (1933–2011) – NASA Computer Scientist and Mathematician

Easley worked on coding for NASA’s Centaur rocket and promoted diversity in STEM. As a Black woman in a male-dominated field, she broke barriers and paved the way for future scientists.

19. Jane Goodall (b. 1934) – Revolutionized Primatology

Goodall’s groundbreaking studies of chimpanzee behavior redefined our understanding of animal intelligence and social structures. She founded the Jane Goodall Institute, advocating for conservation and wildlife protection.

20. Mildred Dresselhaus (1930–2017) – "Queen of Carbon Science"

Dresselhaus made fundamental discoveries in nanotechnology and materials science, particularly in carbon-based materials like graphene. She was a leader in promoting women in STEM.

21. Tu Youyou (b. 1930) – Discovered Malaria Treatment

Tu discovered artemisinin, a revolutionary malaria treatment, saving millions of lives. She won the 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine, becoming China’s first female Nobel laureate.

22. Barbara Liskov (b. 1939) – Pioneer in Computer Science

Liskov’s work in object-oriented programming laid the foundation for modern software design. She was one of the first women to earn a Ph.D. in computer science.

23. Jocelyn Bell Burnell (b. 1943) – Discovered Pulsars

Bell Burnell’s discovery of pulsars (rotating neutron stars) was one of the biggest breakthroughs in astrophysics. However, her male colleagues received the Nobel Prize for it.

24. Katalin Karikó (b. 1955) – mRNA Vaccine Technology

Her decades-long research into mRNA technology laid the foundation for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. She and Drew Weissman won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, revolutionizing vaccine development and paving the way for mRNA-based treatments for diseases like cancer.

25. Frances Arnold (b. 1956) – Pioneered Directed Evolution

Arnold developed the directed evolution of enzymes, a breakthrough in biochemistry with applications in medicine and biofuels. She won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

26. Andrea Ghez (b. 1965) – Discovery of the Supermassive Black Hole

Ghez’s research using high-resolution imaging provided definitive evidence of a supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. She was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Physics, becoming one of only four women to ever receive this honor.

27-28. Emmanuelle Charpentier & Jennifer Doudna (b. 1968 & b. 1964) – Developed CRISPR Gene Editing

Their discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 revolutionized genetics, allowing precise DNA modification. They won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

29. Nergis Mavalvala (b. 1968) – Gravitational Wave Detection

Mavalvala was a key scientist in the LIGO project, which confirmed the existence of gravitational waves, a discovery that won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics. Her research helps us understand the fabric of spacetime and cosmic events like black hole mergers.

30. Katie Bouman (b. 1989) – First-Ever Image of a Black Hole

Bouman developed an algorithm for the Event Horizon Telescope that helped capture the first-ever image of a black hole. Her work was crucial in proving Einstein’s general relativity predictions and expanding our understanding of the universe.