From Dorothy Hodgkins, who made advances in X-ray crystallography and discovered many biochemical structures including penicillin, vitamin B12 and insulin, to Maria Goeppert Mayer’s work that led to the the first advanced model of the atomic nucleus, women have made major contributions to many scientific fields. And there are amazing women right here in the Bay Area making great advancements in science. So in honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day we’d like to recognize a few Bay Area women in STEM.
Sylvia Earle
She's spent much of the last five decades exploring and protecting the world's oceans. Find out why legendary marine biologist Sylvia Earle thinks that we may only have a few years left to save what she calls "the blue heart of the planet."
Millie Hughes-Fulford
The first woman to travel into space as a working scientist, Hughes-Fulford is a molecular scientist that has sent numerous experiments into space. Find out about some of her space experiments.
Melanie Harrison
A water quality specialist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Fisheries Division, Harrison helps protect and restore threatened and endangered fish by evaluating development projects.
Tejal Desai
A bioengineering professor at UC San Francisco, Desai is investigating new treatments for diabetes. Using nanotechnology, she is developing a tiny capsule that contains pancreatic cells that produce insulin.