AI generated image of the natural scientist and artist Maria Sibylla Merian (1647–1717), one of the world's first entomologists, created Gesine Born, with the following prompts: - oil painting of [Portrait of Sibylla Merian] from 1700, in the style of Dutch tradition, with paintings by Maria Sibylla Merian]

Women in science history

Contemporary Max Planck women scientists on female science pioneers in history who persevered despite facing often daunting social obstacles

Left: Mercedes Gomez de Agüero, junior group leader of the Max Planck Research Group for Systems Immunology in Würzburg. Right: Anna Wessels Williams (1863-1954), American pioneering bacteriologist and public health advocate.

“Gender equality in science will lead to a stronger scientific community”

Infection Biology Medicine
Mercedes Gomez de Agüero, junior group leader at the Max Planck Research Group for Systems Immunology, about pioneering bacteriologist Anna Wessels Williams   more
“It’s important to normalise that women don’t have to compromise on their dreams”

“It’s important to normalise that women don’t have to compromise on their dreams”

Genetics Plant Research (B&M) Plant Research (E&C)
Neha Bathia, postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, about the trailblazing Indian botanist Janaki Ammal, one of the first female botanists in India
  more
A composite image of Flore Kunst, Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen, and Dutch physician and women's suffrage activist Aletta Jacobs

"Women in science attract more women in science"

International Medicine Quantum Physics
Flore Kunst, Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen, about the pioneering feminist and women’s suffrage activist Aletta Jacobs, the first female doctor in the Netherlands and a leading figure in the Dutch and international women's movement
  more
"A source of inspiration"

"A source of inspiration"

Astronomy Astrophysics
Franciele Kruczkiewicz from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics about Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin more
"Her research is strikingly relevant"

"Her research is strikingly relevant"

Chemistry (E&C) Climate
Eleni Dovrou from the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, about 19th century amateur scientist and women's campaigner Eunice Newton Foote more
"Without Emmy Noether, there would be a huge gap in mathematics and its understanding"

"Without Emmy Noether, there would be a huge gap in mathematics and its understanding"

Mathematics
Noémie Combe, Max Planck Institute for the Mathematics of Sciences, about the brilliant mathematician Emmy Noether, regarded as the inventor of modern algebra more
Trailblazer in conservation biology

Trailblazer in conservation biology

Biodiversity Ecology (B&M) Ecology (E&C) Plant Research (B&M) Plant Research (E&C)
Jana Wäldchen of the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry on the British biodiversity researcher and conservation biologist Georgina Mace more
The butterfly woman

The butterfly woman

Cultural Studies Developmental Biology Ecology (B&M) Plant Research (B&M)
Florencia Campetella, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, on Sybilla Maria Merian, 17th century entomologist, artist, naturalist, proto-ecologist more
'A lack of leading female scientists means a lack of role models'

'A lack of leading female scientists means a lack of role models'

Proteins
Natalie Matosin from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich talks about the biochemist Rosalind Franklin more
Against the odds

Against the odds

Genetics Plant Research (B&M)
Franziska Turck from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research talks about the botanist and Nazi opponent Elisabeth Schiemann more
'Caroline Herschel's legacy is undoubtedly lasting'

'Caroline Herschel's legacy is undoubtedly lasting'

Astronomy Astrophysics
Astronomer Sherry Suyu from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics on comet-hunter Caroline Herschel, the first salaried female astronomer more
Ada Lovelace and the first computer programme in the world

Ada Lovelace and the first computer programme in the world

Computer Science Mathematics
Mathematician Anna Siffert from the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics on why Ada Lovelace is considered the world's first computer programmer. more
"Mathematics opens up a new, wonderful world"

"Mathematics opens up a new, wonderful world"

Mathematics
Annette Vogt from the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science on Sofia Kovalevskaya, the world's first female professor of mathematics. more

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