Break through the glass ceiling with six incredible women whose scientific research changed the world. Katherine Coleman Johnson broke race and gender barriers at NASA. Eugenie Clark proved to the world that sharks were more than mindless eating machines. Marie Tharp mapped the ocean floor — and along the way helped prove the theory of plate tectonics. Gertrude Elion won the Nobel Prize for developing a better way to design new drugs. Florence Hawley Ellis helped pioneer tree-ring dating in archeology. And Eleanor Margaret Burbidge helped find quasars and identify some of the most distant astronomical objects known during her day.
Acclaimed author Laurie Lawlor deftly paints portraits of each of these figures who refused to take no for an answer, pursuing their passions through fieldwork, observations, laboratories, and research vessels in the face of sexism, racism, and more. This diverse group of women, all with awe-inspiring accomplishments, were active mentors and determined people who wouldn’t take no for an answer. This beautifully written book includes key photographs, a glossary, and source notes, perfect for introducing young readers to these trailblazing women.
"All [six women] were, as the author puts it, struck by 'thunderbolts of discrimination' for being women and, in the cases of Clark (whose mother was Japanese) and Johnson (who was African-American), people 'of color.' Nevertheless, they persevered, made important discoveries in their varied fields, and, eventually at least, earned significant recognition.... A handful of new role models, along with light shed on just who made certain significant advances in astronomy, archaeology, biology, medicine, and plate tectonics." — Kirkus Reviews
Recommended Age | 8 - 12 |
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Author | Laurie Lawlor |
ISBN | 0823441865 |
Publication Date | Jan 15, 2019 |
Publisher | Holiday House |
Language | English |