Hi, you're listening to cultivate
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This podcast is perfect for anyone curious
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You never know what we'll talk about
next.
Hi, my name is Jacie Chandler, and
I'm the social media coordinator here at
the Science center.
And on today's episode, we're celebrating
unsung heroes of the scientific world.
As we celebrate Women's History Month in
March, it's essential to shine a spotlight
on the remarkable contributions of female
scientists who had often been overlooked.
It's also equally important to recognize
that underrepresentation extends beyond
gender.
Throughout history, there have been
countless unsung heroes, individuals whose
groundbreaking work has shaped our
understanding of the world, yet their
names remain unknown.
Let's explore the stories of both female
and male scientists who deserve
recognition for their invaluable
contributions.
The first we're going to talk about
is Mary Anning, who is alive from
1799 to 1847, Mary Anning was a
british fossil collector, fossil dealer,
and self taught paleontologist who made
significant contributions to the field of
paleontology.
Despite facing gender and class barriers,
inning's discoveries, including the first
complete ichyothoris and Plesiosaurus
skeletons, played a crucial role in
shaping our understanding of prehistoric
life.
Her work laid the foundation for modern
paleontological studies, yet her name
remains relatively unknown outside
scientific circles.
The next we'll talk about is Rosalind
Franklin, who is alive.
From 1920 to 1958, Rosalind Franklin was
a pioneering chemist and xray
crystallographer whose work was crucial to
the discovery of the structure of DNA.
Despite her pivotal role, Franklin's
contributions were often overshadowed by
her male counterparts, Watson and Crick,
who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology
or Medicine in 1962.
Franklin's xray diffraction images
provided vital evidence for the double
helix structure of DNA, laying the
foundation for modern molecular biology.
The next one is Garrett Morgan, who
was alive from 1877 to 1963.
Garrett Morgan was an african american
inventor and entrepreneur best known for
inventing the gas mask and traffic signal.
His inventions have saved countless lives
and revolutionized transportation safety.
Despite his significant contributions,
Morgan's achievements were often
marginalized due to racial discrimination
prevalent during his time.
His inventions continue to impact society,
profoundly underscoring the importance of
recognizing underrepresented inventors.
The next we'll talk about is Lise
Meitner, who is alive from 1878 to
1968.
Lise Meitner was an austrian swedish
physicist whose collaboration with Oto
Hahn led to the discovery of nuclear
fission.
Despite her instrumental role in this
groundbreaking discovery, Meitner was
overlooked for the Nobel Prize, which was
awarded solely to Han in 1944.
Meitner's contributions to nuclear physics
paved the way for advancements in energy
production and nuclear technology, yet her
name remains lesser known compared to her
male peers.
The next is Percy Lavon Julian, alive
1899 to 1975, Percy Leaon Julian was
an african american chemist and pioneer in
the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs,
particularly steroids.
Despite facing racial discrimination
throughout his career, Julian's
groundbreaking research led to the
synthesis of cortisone and other important
medications, revolutionizing the
pharmaceutical industry.
His work not only saved countless lives,
but also paved the way for greater
diversity in scientific research and
innovation.
The next scientist we'll talk about is
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, who was alive
from 1910 to 1995.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was an indian
american astrophysicist who made
significant contributions to our
understanding of stellar evolution and
black holes.
Despite facing resistance to his
groundbreaking theories, Chandrasekhar's
work on the limiting mass of white
dwarf stars, known as the Chandrasekhar 
limit, earned him the Nobel Prize in
Physics in 1983.
His research laid the foundation for
modern astrophysics and continues to
influence our understanding of the
universe.
Our next scientist is Chien-Shiung Wu, who
is alive from 1912 to 1997, Chien-Shiung
Wu, known as the first lady of
Physics, was a chinese american physicist
who made significant contributions to the
Manhattan project.
During World War II, Wu's experiments
disproved the law of conservation of
parity, a groundbreaking discovery that
earned her widespread acclaim.
Despite her achievements, Wu faced
discrimination and was often overlooked
for awards and recognition, highlighting
the challenges faced by minority
scientists in the fields of physics.
Our next scientist is Fazlur Rahman Khan.
Alive from 1929 to 1982, Fazlur Rahman Khan
 was a bangladeshi american structural
engineer and architect known for his
innovative structural systems used in
skyscraper construction.
Khan's designs, including the tubular
system and bundled tube structure,
revolutionized tall building construction
and influenced architectural engineering
worldwide.
Despite his profound impact on modern
architecture, Khan's name remains
relatively unknown to the general public.
Our next scientist is Annie Easley.
Alive from 1933 to 2011, Annie Easley
was an african american computer scientist
and mathematician who made significant
contributions to the development of
software for NASA's Centaur rocket stage
and energy conversion systems.
Despite facing racial and gender
discrimination, Easley's work was
instrumental in advancing space
exploration and alternative energy
technologies.
Her pioneering efforts continue to inspire
future generations of scientists and
engineers.
Our last scientist that will be
highlighting today is Tu Youyou, who
was born in 1930 and is still
alive today.
Tu Youyou is a chinese pharmaceutical
chemist who won the Nobel Prize in
Physiology or Medicine in 2015 for her
discovery of arnimissanin, a drug used to
treat malaria.
Tu's research involved combing through
ancient chinese text on herbal medicine to
identify potential treatments for malaria.
Despite facing challenges and skepticism,
Tu's perseverance led to the development
of artemisinin, which has saved millions
of lives worldwide.
Her groundbreaking work highlights the
importance of traditional knowledge and
interdisciplinary collaboration in the
scientific research, earning her
international claim and recognition.
Unsung heroes and underrepresented
scientists have played a crucial role in
shaping our world, yet their contribution
often goes unrecognized.
By highlighting their stories, we can
inspire future generations and ensure that
all voices are heard and celebrated in
the history of science and innovation.
Are you interested in learning more about
female scientists?
In honor of Women's History Month, we
are publishing blogs every Friday in March
that are talking about female scientists
who our animals are actually named after
in honor of Women's History Month, so
you can check that out on our
website.
We also promote those on our Facebook,
Instagram and LinkedIn so you can always
find them on there as well.
But that is all I have for
you guys today.
Just wanted to shine some light on
a few unsung heroes in scientific history.
I'm sure as time goes on, we
will do more of that.
But thank you guys for joining us
and for listening to this episode of
Cultivate Curiosity.
We'll be back in two weeks with
a new episode.
See you guys then.
Bye.
Thanks for listening to this week's
episode of Cultivate Curiosity.
If you have any questions, feel free
to email us at socialmedia@ecscience.org
tune.
In for our next episode in two
weeks.