Ode to women in Chemistry

Many women have contributed towards the growth and development of science in general and chemistry in particular from the time immemorial.  Several women contributed to the proto-science of alchemy in Alexandria around the 1st or 2nd centuries AD. The best known among them, Mary the Jewess, is credited with invention of several chemical instruments, including the double boiler (bain-marie) and a type of still.  In medieval Europe, many of the women chemists were self taught and worked clandestinely. These women worked as assistants to their fathers, brothers and husbands. Hildegard  of Bingen, Germany practised naturopathy. She  was well known for her healing powers involving practical application of tinctures, herbs, and precious stones. Hildegard also wrote   about the need to boil water as early as in twelfth century in her medicinal texts. Marie-Anne was Lavoisier's wife and colleague. She used to conduct chemistry experiments at home. She translated documents from English for him and prepared sketches and engravings of laboratory instruments. She hosted parties at which prominent scientists could discuss chemistry and other scientific ideas. These early chemists were not very well known, were allowed less access to research facilities than their male counterparts, had fewer job opportunities, published less and received lesser awards and recognition.

It was however Madam Curie who changed the rule. She defied all norms and won two Nobel prizes in Physics and Chemistry. In doing so she inspired a whole generation of future women scientists and engineers. Her daughter Irene Curie-Joliot was also a Nobel laureate in Chemistry. Marguerite Perry started her career as assistant to Madam Curie and discovered eighty seventh element of periodic table.  In fact International Year of Chemistry 2011 coincided with the 100^th anniversary of Nobel prize in Chemistry to Madam Curie. Despite winning Nobel Prize she was denied a post in her native place Warsaw because of her gender. She was not allowed membership in French academy of science due to the same reason. She however overcame all prejudices and discrimination. Madam Curie clearly changed the role of women in Society too.

Many, other women chemists and biochemists, made important contributions in their fields. Some won Nobel Prize while others won various types of accolades and recognition.  Rosalind Franklin used x-ray crystallography to see the structure of DNA.  Gerti Cori was a biochemist and became first American woman to win a Nobel Prize in science. Dorothy Crowfoot-Hodgkin was awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for using x-rays to determine the structure of biologically important molecules. Recently, Ada Yonath of Israel received Nobel Prize for her work on Ribosomes. Emma Perry Carr was the first recipient of the America society Garvan medal for her work on ultra violet spectra of simple unsaturated hydrocarbon. Marjori Caserio is an expert  educator  and  author of organic chemistry.

Maria Telkes an industrial chemist is known for creating the first thermoelectric power generator in 1947 and the first thermoelectric refrigerator in 1953 using the principles of semiconductor thermoelectricity. She designed a house using Phase Change Material  to make it warm without using fuel . Rachel Carson’s powerful book ‘Silent Springs’ documents the impact of Pesticide on Marine life. She is a pioneer of Green Chemistry. Ruth Wiener is another environmental chemist of repute.

The above list is just indicative and not exhaustive. Presently many female Chemists are working, around the globe for the growth of knowledge in chemistry and betterment of society. Although their percentage is small as compared to their male counterparts but their contributions are by no means small.

Women possess indigenous technical knowledge and practice chemistry in their everyday lives. It is however a pity that the sciences which are of practical use in the household are excluded from recognition. All home makers are expert in kitchen chemistry, molecular gastronomy and food processing. They perform chemical operations like ignition, combustion, boiling, measuring, facilitation of heat transfer, mass transfer, phase change, fermentation, Pasturization, Coagulation et al on daily basis. Moreover women process fruits and vegetables available in one season to be used in lean season. Due credit must be given to the practice of open sun drying of vegetables by Kashmiri women in summer. These dried vegetables known as ‘Hokh Seun’ in local parlance provides assortment and nutritional security in harsh winter months. By experimentation and practice home makers ensures the right moisture content in dried vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are home processed to make Jams and pickles. Homemakers also process milk to obtain cottage cheese, butter and curd which have longer shelf life, better nutritional values and provide range in food value. Every woman is an expert in kitchen chemistry, thermodynamics and heat transfer which she has learnt by practice and experience. Due credits should be given to grandmothers and great grand mothers who wrap the pots  full of cooked rice with blankets to ensure that it remains hot at time of consumption. Warm milk is mixed with right amount of culture to prepare yoghurt. The temperature is maintained to ensure proper reaction. Grandmas are practical chemists and drugists. Many common ailments are treated at home using kitchen condiments like turmeric, tulsi, garlic, clove, amla etc.