Women in Science

Rachel Carson

Biologist

Rachel Carson (1907-1964) made a successful career combining the interests of her youth—science and literature—as a marine biologist, editor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and best-selling author of books such as The Sea Around Us (1951). The lyrical, explosive Silent Spring (1962), completed with heroic effort as Carson battled cancer, brought unprecedented attention to the dangers of indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides and was a prime catalyst of the U.S. environmental movement in the latter half of the twentieth century. Though the pesticide industry reacted to Silent Spring by attempting to discredit Carson and her findings, she coolly and firmly continued to speak out the need to temper technological progress with a broader view of its effects.

Be sure to read about how other female, African-American and other scientists helped shape our history and make our world what it is today.