Dear Equilibrium Reader,

Quick question – how many women scientists can you name? Chances are, Marie Curie comes to mind, but what about other female contributors who have shaped the world of science?

On February 11, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science—a day dedicated to recognizing the vital role of women in STEM fields. Despite their groundbreaking discoveries, many women scientists have been overlooked, undercredited, or even erased from history. This is why, in 2015, the United Nations established this day to promote equal access, recognition, and opportunities for women in science.

In this week’s article, we highlight some of the many women whose scientific achievements shaped the world—yet, history often failed to acknowledge their contributions.

Women Who Changed Science – But Didn’t Get the Credit

Throughout history, women in STEM have made revolutionary discoveries, yet too often, their male colleagues received the credit. Here are five overlooked women whose work transformed their fields:

1. Lise Meitner (1938) – Nuclear Fission

Austrian physicist Lise Meitner played a critical role in discovering nuclear fission, the process that enables nuclear power and atomic bombs. However, in 1944, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded solely to Otto Hahn, her male collaborator, leaving Meitner’s contributions unrecognized.

2. Rosalind Franklin (1952) – DNA Double Helix Structure

British scientist Rosalind Franklin captured Photo 51, a groundbreaking X-ray diffraction image that revealed DNA’s double-helix structure. However, James Watson and Francis Crick used her work without permission and won the 1962 Nobel Prize, leaving Franklin’s pivotal role largely ignored.

3. Chien-Shiung Wu (1956) – The Wu Experiment & Parity Violation

Chinese-American physicist Chien-Shiung Wu conducted the Wu Experiment, proving that the law of conservation of parity did not hold in weak nuclear interactions—a groundbreaking physics discovery. However, when the 1957 Nobel Prize was awarded, only Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang received the honor, while Wu was left out.

4. Esther Lederberg (1958) – Bacterial Genetics & Antibiotic Resistance

Microbiologist Esther Lederberg discovered the lambda phage, a virus crucial to bacterial genetics, and pioneered replica plating, a method essential for antibiotic resistance research. Despite her contributions, when the 1958 Nobel Prize was awarded, it went solely to her husband, Joshua Lederberg.

5. Jocelyn Bell Burnell (1967) – Discovery of Pulsars

As a graduate student, Jocelyn Bell Burnell discovered radio pulsars, a major breakthrough in astrophysics. Yet, in 1974, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to her male supervisor, Antony Hewish, while she was excluded from the recognition.

Why This Matters

The exclusion of women from Nobel Prizes and major scientific recognitions is not just a historical injustice—it continues to impact women in STEM today. While progress has been made, women still face systemic biases, funding disparities, and limited career advancement opportunities in science.

By celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we aim to amplify the voices of women in STEM and ensure their contributions are recognized, valued, and celebrated.

The next time you think of great scientific minds, remember the many women who shaped our world—often without receiving the credit they deserve.

Until next time,

Equilibrium Team