Esther Lederberg (1922-2006)

Microbiologist Esther Miriam Zimmer Lederberg died on November 11, 2006. From her obituary in the LA Times:

She discovered the lambda phage, a parasite of bacteria that became a key tool for the laboratory study of viruses and genetics, and was the co-developer with her husband of replica plating, a technique for rapid screening of bacteria for desired mutations.

"She developed lab procedures that all of us have used in research," said cancer researcher Stanley Falkow of the Stanford University School of Medicine.

She was also a pioneer of women's rights, becoming a full professor at a time when women were rare on the faculties of Stanford and other major universities. "She was a real legend," said Dr. Lucy Tompkins of Stanford.

Related links:

• Aetiology: Microbiology Pioneer Dies
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Kate Gleason

Zuska points out that November 25th was the birthday of Kate Gleason, the first female member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1918. Today the Rochester Institute of Technology includes the Kate Gleason College of Engineering - a tribute both to her legacy both as an engineer and philanthropist.

Additional Links:
• The First Lady of Gearing
• History of the Gleason Works

First Hand Experiences

Recent blog posts on being a woman in science:

Zuska tackles the stereotypes of a young female engineering student.
• Thus Spake Zuska: Let Her Eat the Oppressor's Cake

Addressing the Gender Gap
• Pure Pedantry: Gender Gap in the Sciences - It's All About the Babies
• The Frontal Cortex: Economists Tackle the Women in Science Debate

Science and marriage
• Science + Professor + Woman = Me: 2-Body Data

Many women science-engineering-math professors are married. It is a myth that women have to stay single (and childless) to succeed as professors at a research university.

Sandra Witelson

Mind Hacks has an interesting post on the work of Professor Sandra Witelson examining the differences between male and female brains. She is possibly best known as one of the scientists who studied Einstein's brain.