Women in time

Pioneering women from the past and present have made significant contributions to science and technology, despite many barriers. Here's a look at some of our founding mothers.

1818-1889: Maria Mitchell an American astronomer, won a gold medal for discovering a new comet on October 1, 1847,

1820-1910: Known as the "lady with the lamp,"

Florence Nightingale shaped nursing into the profession it is today. She studied nursing in Paris and later became the superintendent of a women's hosspital in London. In 1854, the Crimean War left British troops with inadequate health supplies. The secretary of war asked Florence to take charge of the dilapidated hospital. She took command, cleaned it up, and set up schedules for food and car. She saved many lives and made many changes in the nursing and health profession.

1842-1911: Ellen Swallow Richards, an American chemist, earned a B.S. in chemistry from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1873, as well as a master's degree from Vassar. She went on to complete the requirements for a doctorate, but did not receive the degree because, as she wrote, "the heads of department did not wish a woman to receive the university's first D.S. in chemistry." Ellen taught in MIT's Chemistry department until she died, analyzing water and sewage systems far the Massachusetts Board of Health and set statewide quality standards. She also had a reputation for being known as a "preeminent water scientist." Richards achieved worldwide recognition on her analysis of minerals in the earth. Richards pioneered environmental and sanitary engineering and is known as "the woman who founded ecology."