Category Archives: Chemistry

Isabella Karle

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Rachel Levy

Isabella Karle in 2005 in Washington, DC Isabella Karle (1921- ) is a world-famous structural chemist, who has received almost all awards and distinctions except for the Nobel Prize. In fact, there are many who thought she should have shared … Continue reading →

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Stephanie L. Kwolek

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Rachel Levy

Image from the Hagley Vault Digital Archives.  Caption says “Stephanie L. Kwolek, developer of Kevlar (circa 1995).  While working with DuPont Stephanie Kwolek developed the first liquid crystal polymer which provided the basis for Kevlar brand fiber.”  The New York … Continue reading →

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Sandra Kizior

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Rachel Levy

Thanks to Sandy Kizior, who shared several photographs from her working life.  I smile every time I read this comment she left on the blog: Rachel I love you. Finally a “place” online I can feel like one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemistry, Engineering | 1 Comment

Ursula Franklin

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Rachel Levy

Thanks to Deb Hirsch, who pointed out this article in the Atlantic about Ursula Franklin.  According to the article, The 92-year-old metallurgist pioneered the field of archeometry, the science of dating archaeologically discovered bronzes, metals, and ceramics. Her research into spiking … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Chemistry, Medicine | 1 Comment

Mary Petty

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Rachel Levy

Thanks to Deb Hirsch who shared this terrific picture from the UNC-G Archives of Mary Petty, who led the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Chemistry Dept from 1893 to 1934. Here’s a bit more info from Erin Lawrimore: As … Continue reading →

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Ruth Benerito

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Rachel Levy

Thanks to Andrea Hermann, who suggested this post: The Washington Post recently had an obituary by Emily Langer for Dr. Ruth Benerito.  Dr. Benerito, an Agriculture Department chemist, was credited with helping create wrinkle-free cotton.  She died Oct. 5 at age 97. … Continue reading →

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GGSTEM Challenge: Who was Margaret Dorothy Foster?

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Rachel Levy

Here’s the next #GGSTEM challenge:  Let’s write a post together about Margaret Foster.  Thanks to @CCdiglib, I saw the above image in a review on the BrainPickings blog of the book  The Science Education of American Girls: A Historical Perspective (Studies in the History … Continue reading →

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Mary-Dell Chilton

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Rachel Levy

Thanks to Steven Goldsmith, who submitted this post about his colleague Mary-Dell Chilton. Mary-Dell Chilton got STEM. Mary-Dell Chilton has been called “the Queen of Agrobacterium” for her discovery of the process by which genes can be inserted into plants, … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry | 2 Comments

Ann Cartwright

Posted on July 3, 2013 by Rachel Levy

How I came to love chemistry By: Ann Cartwright, Chemistry Professor at San Jacinto College, mother of two daughters. I knew. By 11th grade I knew. I was in a geometry class and it was such an exhilarating challenge. I knew … Continue reading →

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Mary Engle Pennington

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Rachel Levy

Thanks to Jill Tietjen, regular contributor to Grandma got STEM, co-author of the Bestseller Her Story, A Timeline of the Women Who Changed America, and President and CEO of Technically Speaking, Inc. for this post. The first woman inducted into the Poultry Historical Society’s … Continue reading →

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