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Women in Science
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Marie Meurdrac (1610-1680)
Marie Meurdrac was a French woman who lived during the 17th century, likely in a convent where she pursued her scientific studies. Little is known about her personal life, but her dedication to learning and science was remarkable in an era when women ha limited access to education. She was a chemist an alchemist who authored La Chymie Charitable et Facile, en Faveur des Dames in 1666. This book simplified chemistry for a broader audience, especially women, by using French instead of Latin. -
Margaret Cavendish (1623-1673)
Margaret Cavendish was an English aristocrat, philosopher, poet, and writer. Born into a wealthy family, she married William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle. Despite lacking formal education, she became involved in intellectual circles. She was a prolific writer and one of the first women to publish under her own name. She authored works on natural philosophy, including Observations upon Experimental Philosophy (1666) and The Blazing World (1666). -
Maria Merian (1647-1717)
Maria Merian was a naturalist and scientific illustrator. Born in Frankfurt, she learned painting and engraving from her stepfather. She developed an early interest in insects and plants, combining her artistic skills with scientific observation. She married Johann Graff and had two daughters. Merian was a pioneering entomologist who documented the life cycles of insects through illustrations. Her work Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (1705), was based on her research during a expedition. -
Maria Winkelmann (1670-1720)
Maria Winkelmann was a German astronomer educated by her family. She married Gottfried Kirch and worked alongside him at the Berlin Academy of Sciences. Despite her expertise, she faced significant barriers as a woman in science. She discovered the “Comet of 1702,” though her husband initially received credit. She also contributed to observations on planets and auroras. Denied a position at the Berlin Academy after her husband’s death, she remains a symbol of women’s struggles in science. -
Émilie du Châtelet (1706-1749)
Émilie du Châtelet was a French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher. Born into an aristocratic family, she received an exceptional education for a woman of her time. She had a romantic partnership with Voltaire and pursued her studies despite societal constraints. She is known for her translation and commentary on Newton’s Principia, which included her own original contributions to physics. Her work advanced understanding of energy and laid the groundwork for modern science. -
Dorothea von Rodde-Schlözer (1770-1825)
Dorothea von Rodde-Schlözer was a German scholar and the first woman to earn a doctorate in Germany. Born in Lübeck, she received a rigorous education from her father, a professor, who believed in her intellectual potential. She married a merchant but remained deeply engaged in intellectual pursuits. In 1787, she became the first woman in Germany to receive a doctorate in philosophy. She was also a member of learned societies, symbolizing progress for women in higher education.