“Women cannot advance in the field of science…”. This was an opinion frequently expressed in the past.
However, even in eras far more difficult than our own in terms of gender equality, some women still managed to make a difference in both the laboratory and in society.
Marie Curie
Contributions to Physics, Chemistry and Medicine
Marie Curie (1867-1934) was one of the most important female scientists in history; she made enormous contributions to both Physics and Chemistry, as well as to Medicine. She was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize and the only woman to receive a Nobel Prize in two different fields.
She discovered the radioactive elements polonium and radium, which opened up new ways to treat cancer through radiotherapy. During World War I, she developed and deployed mobile X-ray units. These “petites curies” saved thousands of lives by allowing medics to diagnose wounds without delay on the battlefield.
Curie not only paved the way for important medical applications, she also became a symbol of strength and inspiration for women in science. Her legacy continues to inspire millions of women around the world to pursue their dreams in science, research and education.
Vera Rubin
The astronomer who “saw” dark matter
Vera Rubin (1928-2016) was an American astronomer who pioneered the study of galaxy rotation rates. In the 1970s, together with her colleague Ken Ford, she studied the rotation curves of spiral galaxies and discovered that the stars at their outer boundaries were moving at roughly the same speed as those near their center. This contradicts the laws of classical gravity, given that there was insufficient visible mass to justify it.
In fact, the phenomenon could only be explained by the presence of an unknown, invisible form of matter: Accounting for about 85% of the total matter in the universe, this ‘dark matter’ is now a fundamental component of our cosmic modeling. Despite the obstacles she faced as a woman in a predominantly male-dominated scientific field, Rubin actively demanded equal access for women to observatories and research institutions, thus contributing to the advancement of equality in science.
Although she was never awarded the Nobel Prize, her work was widely recognized and formed the basis for dozens of subsequent studies in astrophysics and cosmology. As a minimal tribute to her memory and contributions, the large astronomical observatory currently under construction in Chile bears her name: the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Dedicated to the study of dark matter and energy, it is one of the most advanced telescopes in the world. Rubin’s legacy is not limited to her scientific discoveries, however; it also embraces the deeply human values of perseverance, curiosity and justice in science.
Rita Levi-Montalcini
A gifted neurobiologist
Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012) was an Italian physician and a pioneering researcher in the field of neurology. In 1986, she won the Nobel Prize in Medicine, together with Stanley Cohen, for their discoveries relating to the structure and life of cells. Their discoveries opened up new avenues in our understanding of phenomena including tumors, dysplasias and dementia.
Subject to racist attacks during World War II because of her Jewish ancestry, Rita Levi-Montalcini was forced to curtail her research and conduct her experiments at home.
In 1969, she became the first president of the Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology at the Italian National Research Council. Montalcini was an ardent supporter of funding for women in science, and in 1992 she and her twin sister founded their own institute to provide mentoring to children. In 2001, she expanded the Institute, which now provides educational support and scholarships to African women and children.
She was the oldest living Nobel laureate and the first, and only one to date, to reach the age of 100.
Lise Meitner
Defining contribution to nuclear physics
Lise Meitner (1878-1968) succeeded in explaining the theory of nuclear fission, the process that paved the way for the development of the atomic bomb and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. And she did so at a time when women were virtually excluded from scientific laboratories
However, despite her decisive contribution, the Nobel Prize in Physics was only awarded to her collaborator, Otto Hahn. Nonetheless, the scientific community of today honors her with the element Meitnerium, which bears her name, in recognition of her enormous contribution to our understanding of the structure of matter and nuclear science.
Rosalind Franklin
The “invisible” lady of DNA
Rosalind Elsie Franklin (1920-1958) was a prominent personality who stood up to, and vanquished, the injustices and adverse conditions she had to face. The English chemist and X-ray crystallographer contributed significantly to our understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, carbon and graphite.
She is best known for her work on DNA, however, given the important role DNA plays in cell metabolism and genetics. The discovery of its structure has helped other scientists understand how genetic information is passed on from parents to children. The X-ray diffraction images used by Franklin (the celebrated Photo 51) that confirmed the helical structure of DNA were presented without her knowledge by a prominent male collaborator.
Although this image and the accurate interpretation of the data it contains provided valuable information about the structure of DNA, Franklin’s scientific contribution to the discovery of the DNA double helix is too often overlooked. Today, it is widely accepted that Watson and Crick formulated the double helix model for DNA, but that they could not have done so without the results of this great woman’s research.
Her contribution to the most important biological discovery of the 20th century was recognized after her death and her important place in the history of science is now universally acknowledged.
