Forces of Nature: The Women who Changed Science

Description

From the ancient world to the present women have been critical to the progress of science, yet their importance is overlooked, their stories lost, distorted, or actively suppressed. Forces of Nature sets the record straight and charts the fascinating history of women's discoveries in science. In the ancient and medieval world, women served as royal physicians and nurses, taught mathematics, studied the stars, and practiced midwifery. As natural philosophers, physicists, anatomists, and botanists, they were central to the great intellectual flourishing of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. More recently women have been crucially involved in the Manhattan Project, pioneering space missions and much more. Despite their record of illustrious achievements, even today very few women win Nobel Prizes in science. In this thoroughly researched, authoritative work, you will discover how women have navigated a male-dominated scientific culture - showing themselves to be pioneers and trailblazers, often without any recognition at all. Included in the book are the stories of: Hypatia of Alexandria, one of the earliest recorded female mathematicians Maria Cunitz who corrected errors in Kepler's work Emmy Noether who discovered fundamental laws of physics Vera Rubin one of the most influential astronomers of the twentieth century Jocelyn Bell Burnell who helped discover pulsars

Anna Reser is an American artist, writer, editor, and historian of science. She holds a Master's Degree in the history of science from the University of Oklahoma, where she is currently pursuing doctoral studies in the history of technology. She is the editor and co-founder of Lady Science, an independent magazine about women in the history of science. Leila A. McNeill is an American writer, editor, and historian of science. She studied literature at the University of Texas at Dallas where she graduated with a Master's Degree in Literary Studies. She then shifted focus to the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine, in which she earned another Master's Degree at the University of Oklahoma. She is now an editor-in-chief of the online magazine, Lady Science, and an independent researcher and a freelance writer with a focus on women and gender in the history of science, technology and medicine.

"Full of eye-opening information, this unique perspective on women's history will enthrall history buffs, science enthusiasts, and feminists." * Publishers Weekly, Starred Review * "Moving from the ancient world to the modern era, Anna Reser and Leila McNeill's Forces of Nature examines women's unsung contributions to various scientific fields." -- Lauren Sharkey and K.W. Colyard * Bustle * "...the scientists in this lively book inspire and fascinate." -- CARLA DELGADO * Mental Floss * "This volume brings to light the contributions of a multitude of women in science over millennia." * Albuquerque Journal *