Women in Science

Hypatia of Alexandria

Mathematician & Scientist

Preeminent among scients of her day and heir to an intellectual tradition of secularism and paganism, Hypatia (370-415 C.E.) was educated by her father, Thon, a prominent mathematician and astronomer. She became renowned for her brilliance and accomplishment, lecturing in mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and mechanics and making important contributions to algebraic theory. As Alexandria lost its prominence as a learning center and religious factionalism grew, Hypatia resisted the trend, continuing to teach without regard for religious doctrine. Her murder by a mob at age forty-five heralded the virtual cessation of scientific advance for the next thousand years.

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.

Information Source: Publication Department of the Library of Congress.