Part of my goal for Materials Girls was to act as the mentor for these young girls that I have found in other women before me. Women have continuously been influential forces in science and discovery. Today, I wanted to highlight some of the most impressive scientists who have led us to what we know about the world today and our rights in the world of innovation.
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, making history aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1983. A physicist as well as an astronaut, she flew on two missions and became a powerful role model for women in science. After her NASA career, she founded Sally Ride Science to inspire young students, especially girls, to pursue STEM fields.
Mae Jemison became the first African American woman in space when she flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992. Trained as both a physician and an engineer, she combined her expertise in medicine and technology during her career. Since then, she has worked to promote STEM education, sustainable development, and innovation in science.
Katherine Johnson was a groundbreaking NASA mathematician whose calculations were essential to the success of many early U.S. spaceflights, including John Glenn’s orbital mission in 1962. She broke through racial and gender barriers, becoming one of the key figures behind America’s space program. Her story was later highlighted in the book and film Hidden Figures.
Rosalind Franklin was a chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose precise diffraction images revealed critical details of DNA’s structure, helping to uncover the double helix. Though her contributions were not fully recognized during her lifetime (and credit was given fully to Watson and Crick, at the time), her work remains fundamental to genetics. She also made significant advances in understanding viruses and coal.
Marie Curie was a pioneering physicist and chemist who discovered the elements polonium and radium. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person ever to win in two scientific fields, Physics and Chemistry. Her research on radioactivity transformed science and laid the groundwork for medical and nuclear applications
Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree, graduating in 1849. She went on to advocate for women in medicine and co-founded a medical college for women, expanding opportunities in the field. She also promoted public health, hygiene, and preventive medicine throughout her career.
These women remind us that breaking barriers in science is about discovery and paving the way for others to follow. Their stories show the power of persistence, passion, and courage in shaping both knowledge and opportunity. Through Materials Girls, I hope to continue this legacy, encouraging young girls to see themselves in these role models, and hopefully in me.
References
Britannica. “Marie Curie | Biography & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Nov. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Marie-Curie.
Conlon, Anne Marie. “Mae Jemison.” New Scientist, 17 Oct. 1956, www.newscientist.com/people/mae-jemison/.
“Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell Biography | Hobart and William Smith Colleges.” Hws.edu, 17 Jan. 2024, www.hws.edu/about/history/elizabeth-blackwell/biography.aspx. Accessed 19 Sept. 2025.
“New Evidence Supports the Rosalind Franklin Phenomenon – AWIS.” AWIS, 23 May 2024, awis.org/resource/new-evidence-supports-rosalind-franklin-phenomenon/.
“Sally Ride, PhD.” AWIS, 31 May 2024, awis.org/historical-women/sally-ride-phd/. Accessed 19 Sept. 2025.Shetterly, Margot Lee. “Katherine Johnson Biography.” NASA, 22 Nov. 2016, www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/katherine-johnson-biography/.