Celebrating 10 Women Who Transformed Science: A Tribute from the 4equality Project

A trailblazing physicist and chemist, Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have won Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields—Physics and Chemistry. Her research on radioactivity led to the discovery of polonium and radium, revolutionizing medical treatments and our understanding of atomic science.

A British chemist and X-ray crystallographer, Rosalind Franklin’s work was pivotal in uncovering the double-helix structure of DNA. Her X-ray diffraction images provided critical evidence that led to the understanding of DNA’s structure, although her contributions were largely unrecognized during her lifetime.

Often regarded as the world’s first computer programmer, Ada Lovelace wrote the first algorithm intended for processing on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. Her visionary work laid the foundation for modern computing.

An American mathematician, Katherine Johnson’s calculations were critical to the success of NASA’s space missions, including the 1962 orbital flight of John Glenn. Her work broke both racial and gender barriers in the field of space exploration.

Known as the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale was also a pioneer in statistical graphics. She used data visualization to advocate for sanitary reforms in hospitals, significantly reducing mortality rates.

A British chemist, Dorothy Hodgkin advanced the technique of X-ray crystallography to determine the structures of vital biochemical substances, including penicillin and vitamin B12. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964.

An experimental physicist, Chien-Shiung Wu made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. Her work on the Manhattan Project and the Wu experiment challenged the law of conservation of parity, leading to a Nobel Prize for her male colleagues, though her own contributions were overlooked.

A French mathematician and physicist, Emilie du Châtelet is best known for her translation and commentary on Isaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica, which remains the standard French translation. Her work helped disseminate Newtonian physics across Europe

A computer scientist and electrical engineer, Lynn Conway made pioneering contributions to microelectronics and chip design. Her work on VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) revolutionized the semiconductor industry.

An astrophysicist and planetary scientist, Sara Seager has been instrumental in the discovery of exoplanets. Her research has expanded our understanding of planets beyond our solar system and the potential for life elsewhere in the universe.