When you think ‘scientist’ odds are, you think of a man. And that probably has a lot to do with the fact that women are still wildly underrepresented in the field. But it’s important to know and understand that women have been making waves in science for years and will continue to do so. Actually, they can tell you better than we can, so let’s look at some powerful quotes from some of the brightest minds in science.
“Science, for me, gives a partial explanation for life. In so far as it goes, it is based on fact, experience and experiment.” – Rosalind Franklin
“Let us choose for ourselves our path in life, and let us try to strew that path with flowers.” – Emilie du Chatelet
“The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.” – Rachel Carson
“Don’t let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It’s your place in the world; it’s your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.” – Mae Jemison
“It is shameful that there are so few women in science. There is a misconception in America that women scientists are all dowdy spinsters. This is the fault of men.” – Chien-Shiung Wu
“I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy.” – Marie Curie
“We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry.” – Maria Mitchell
“Courage is like — it’s a habitus, a habit, a virtue: you get it by courageous acts. It’s like you learn to swim by swimming. You learn courage by couraging.” – Marie Daly
“I hadn’t been aware that there were doors closed to me until I started knocking on them.” – Gertrude B. Elion
“I didn’t want to just know names of things. I remember really wanting to know how it all worked.” – Elizabeth Blackburn
“I am among those who think that science has great beauty.” – Marie Curie
“With men you’re expected to do well and get the support, but for females, you have to sacrifice something in a different way from men. I think it’s very important for other woman to see that I have had success.” – May-Britt Moser,
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall