Forgotten Women in Chemistry

This article by Marelene Rayner-Canham, Geoff Rayner-Canham describes their work “to fully understand and celebrate the historical contributions of female chemists.” One line resonated strongly within EWOC: “By focusing upon one individual, it is easy to overlook the usually rich interactions among female scientists. Many friendships and professional relationships –  such as that between Polly Porter and Dorothy Hodgkin – lasted a professional lifetime. We consider that these linkages are far more important as a support mechanism among women than among men. There is a richness to the collective activities of female chemists, such as the group-signing of petitions for admission to the Chemical Society, that cannot be captured by researching only one individual.”