Women in Microbiology

Many girls want to become scientists when they grow up, just like many boys do. But for these girls, the struggle to do what they love and to be treated with respect has been much harder because of the discrimination and bias in our society. In Women in Microbiology, we meet women who, despite these obstacles and against tough odds, have become scientific leaders and revered mentors. The women profiled in this collection range from historic figures like Alice Catherine Evans and Ruth Ella Moore to modern heroes like Michele Swanson and Katrina Forest.
 
What binds all of these remarkable women are a passion for their work, a zest for life, a warm devotion to mentoring others--especially younger women--and a sense of justice and fairness that they are willing to fight tirelessly to obtain. Each story is unique, but each woman featured in Women in Microbiology has done so much to expand our knowledge of the natural world while also making it easier for the next generation of scientists to work collaboratively and in an atmosphere where people are judged by their intellect, imagination, skill, and commitment to service regardless of gender or race.
 
Women in Microbiology is a wonderful collection of stories that will inspire everyone, but especially young women and men who are wondering how to find their way in the working world. Some of the names are familiar and some are lesser known, but all of the stories arouse a sense of excitement, driven by tales of new, important scientific insights, stories of overcoming adversity and breaking boundaries, and the inclusion of personal tips and advice from successful careers. These stories are proof that a person can live a balanced and passionate life in science that is rich and rewarding.

List of contents

Contributors
 
Foreword-Congresswoman Louise Slaughter xv
 
Prefaces
 
From Rachel J. Whitaker xvii
 
From Hazel A. Barton xix
 
About the Editors xxiii
 
1 The Group Accomplishes More than the Individual 1
Bonnie L. Bassler
 
2 Exploring the Living Infinite 9
Antje Boetius
 
3 Oceans of Prochlorococcus 19
Sallie "Penny" Chisholm
 
4 Catalyst of a Quiet Revolution 29
Margaret Dayhoff
 
5 A Pioneer Among South American Scientists 37
Johanna Döbereiner
 
6 A Path of Creativity, Persistence, and Rigorous Testing 49
Diana Downs
 
7 A Force of Nature 57
Nicole Dubilier
 
8 A Force in the World of Environmental Microbiology 65
Katrina J. Edwards
 
9 The Shoulders Upon Which So Many Stand 75
Alice Catherine Evans
 
10 Groundbreaking Journey of a Microbial Matriarch 87
Mary K. Firestone
 
11 Turbulence and Triumph 99
Lady Amalia Fleming
 
12 A Renaissance Woman in Microbiology 105
Katrina T. Forest
 
13 Unlocking the Genetic Code of Emerging Outbreaks 113
Elodie Ghedin
 
14 A Woman of Grace and Acerbic Wit 121
Jane Gibson
 
15 Scarred Pioneer and Protector of the Biosphere 125
Millicent C. Goldschmidt
 
16 An Exceptional Scientist and Mentor 137
Susan Gottesman
 
17 Free Spirit 147
Carlyn Halde
 
18 Adviser, Teacher, Role Model, Friend 159
Jo Handelsman
 
19 With Grace, Enthusiasm, and True Grit 171
Caroline Harwood
 
20 Lifelong Mentor 183
Marian Johnson-Thompson
 
21 Salt of the Earth 193
Carol D. Litchfield
 
22 The First African-American to Earn a Ph.D. in the Natural Sciences 207
Ruth E. Moore
 
23 The Winding Path of a Brilliant Scientific Life 213
Nancy A. Moran
 
24 Ensuring That No Knowledge Is Ever Lost 219
Flora Patterson
 
25 Creativity through Freedom 233
Felicitas Pfeifer
 
26 An Early Mycologist 237
Beatrix Potter
 
27 An Almost Unbeatable Force 243
Abigail Salyers
 
28 Enthusiasm and Insight in the World of Archaea 253
Christa Schleper
 
29 An Early Voice for Bacterial Biochemical Experimenters 257
Marjory Stephenson
 
30 A Rewarding Career and Life in Balance 269
Michele Swanson
 
31 Broken Vials and Urgency 283
The Legacy of Patricia Ann Webb
 
32 It's Never Too Late to Bloom 295
Donna M. Wolk
 
33 Pioneer in Microbial Genetics 305
Esther Miriam Zimmer Lederberg
 
34 Women Microbiologists at Rutgers in the Early Golden Age of Antibiotics 317

Summary

Many girls want to become scientists when they grow up, just like many boys do. But for these girls, the struggle to do what they love and to be treated with respect has been much harder because of the discrimination and bias in our society. In Women in Microbiology, we meet women who, despite these obstacles and against tough odds, have become scientific leaders and revered mentors. The women profiled in this collection range from historic figures like Alice Catherine Evans and Ruth Ella Moore to modern heroes like Michele Swanson and Katrina Forest.

What binds all of these remarkable women are a passion for their work, a zest for life, a warm devotion to mentoring others--especially younger women--and a sense of justice and fairness that they are willing to fight tirelessly to obtain. Each story is unique, but each woman featured in Women in Microbiology has done so much to expand our knowledge of the natural world while also making it easier for the next generation of scientists to work collaboratively and in an atmosphere where people are judged by their intellect, imagination, skill, and commitment to service regardless of gender or race.

Women in Microbiology is a wonderful collection of stories that will inspire everyone, but especially young women and men who are wondering how to find their way in the working world. Some of the names are familiar and some are lesser known, but all of the stories arouse a sense of excitement, driven by tales of new, important scientific insights, stories of overcoming adversity and breaking boundaries, and the inclusion of personal tips and advice from successful careers. These stories are proof that a person can live a balanced and passionate life in science that is rich and rewarding.

Additional text

“Women in Microbiology is truly unique; it captures not only the struggles and triumphs of extraordinary microbiologists but does so through the eyes of their former trainees. This book should be required reading for incoming graduate students to facilitate selection of those qualities of mentors most likely to teach them about both groundbreaking research in microbiology and those intangible skills required for success in any career.”
—Gail H. Cassell, Senior Lecturer, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Emeritus McCauley Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham; and Past President of ASM
“Microbiology has benefitted from strong female leaders and mentors who have impacted students and scholars of all ages, genders, and cultures. In addition to highlighting their scientific contributions, the stories of these women show the importance of the human side of science: the inspiration, guidance, character building, and friendship that has broad results for the good of the profession and society as a whole.”
—James Tiedje, University Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University and Past President of ASM
“The contributions of women in microbiology have generally been brushed into the background. This anthology is unique in that it brings focus to the personal trials, tribulations, and triumphs of women in this field. Subjects include not only historic contributors, but also a host of currently active and prominent women microbiologists. It was not so long ago that women who developed an interest in microbial biology saw few inspiring female forerunners featured in textbooks and historical accounts. Women in Microbiology changes this and is a terrific book to pass to an aspiring microbiologist of any gender or age.”
—Norman R. Pace, Distinguished Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder

Product details

• Authors: Hazel A. Barton, Rachel J. Whitaker, Rachel J. (EDT)/ Barton Whitaker
• Assisted by: Hazel A Barton (Editor), Hazel A. Barton (Editor), Hazel B. Barton (Editor), Rachel J Whitaker (Editor), Rachel J. Whitaker (Editor)
• Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.05.2018
• EAN: 9781555819538
• ISBN: 978-1-55581-953-8
• No. of pages: 325
• Dimensions: 155 mm x 230 mm x 16 mm
• Series: ASM Books; ASM
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Natural sciences (general); Mikrobiologie, Medizin, microbiology, Medical Science, Mikrobiologie u. Virologie