barrier Breakers to progress makers – from women naturalists to microscopy artists

An educator’s perspective and Personal Journey. Developed for
IT’S HER - Women in STEM Summit - March 2024

Joel I. Cohen
Visiting Scholar,
Nicholas School of the Environment,
Duke University, NC
[email protected]

1. barrier Breakers to progress makers – from women naturalists to microscopy artists an educator’s perspective and Personal Journey Developed for IT’S HER - Women in STEMM Summit - March 2024 Joel I. Cohen Visiting Scholar, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, NC [email protected] Version 7

2. Part I. constructing a baseline for biology 1. demographics – State and school 2. Science standards – NGSS & biodiversity 3. scientists Mentioned in curriculum 4. nature’s issue on inequalities in science 3/7/2024 2

3. 1. Demographics: rapidly Changing in USA Maryland Public School system example Student demographic change since 1950, Montgomery County Public Schools 3/7/2024 3

4. 3. The standards : Next Generation science (NGSs) HS-LS4-6. Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity *. Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on designing solutions for a proposed problem related to threatened or endangered species or to genetic variation of organisms. * the “biodiversity” hook (issued 2012) 4

5. E.O. Wilson -- writing on “centering” biodiversity. (2006) “ Education in biology is important for the welfare of humanity and for the survival of the rest of life. … the general indifference of people to the living world is the failure of introductory education in biology. The shortfall has been worsened by the common misperception that “rigorously scientific” biology means molecular biology, and biomedical research. But, as I have urged, half of biology now, and probably more than half in the future, lies in the study of biodiversity and the living environment .” From, How to learn biology and how to teach it, chapter 14, in, The Creation by E.O. Wilson 5 2. The standards : what should they be now?

6. 3. The scientists students face in biology Francisco Redi Robert Hooke Rudolph Virchow Theodor Schwann Microscopists A. van Leeuwenhoek Matthias Schleiden Gregor Mendel G 3/7/2024 6

7. 3. The Scientists (continued) - Biology Classroom Charles Darwin John Krebs James Watson, Francis Crick Alfred Wegener Alfred Russel Wallace Melvin Calvin Rosalyn Franklin Rachel Carson 3/7/2024 7 End result: Out of 16 scientists studied, 14 men to 2 women.

8. understanding baseline led to the following work Needed: capacity globally for biodiversity: field, museum, lab Naturalists link biodiversity with and conservation, education Demographics: changing, diversified student body In multi-ethnic classes, students look beyond scientists of the standard curricula Naturalists: they are everywhere! Find right combination of cultural background matching under-represented students Increasing interest in/use of/relying on: citizen science 3/7/2024 8

9. Eventually, this broad open-ended interest guided the subsequent research, and produced The following question, & publication: How and when did women naturalists appear in the scientific literature, and what obstacles were encountered and overcome? Used detailed procedure and multiple sources to locate and read of women naturalists while building searchable database By 2010s, the total number of women represented among naturalists in the literature was 92 out of 508, and a total of 416 men. Such a study on progress and difficulties encountered clarifies and enumerates similar struggles for other underrepresented populations 3/7/2024 9

10. Part II. Methodology and Results Scoping study in four steps: 1. Identification 2. screening 3. eligibility 4. scientists for in-depth study 10

11. Identified locations where actual or first-hand information was held. two case examples: Elizabeth Gould : who really painted those birds? Maria Sibylla Merian: why are her images not in textbooks teaching metamorphosis? 3/7/2024 11

12. “You’ve got the wrong Gould there!” John Gould, Comoros Island stamp with Tanager darwinii Elizabeth Gould and Edmund Lear Manuscripts courtesy of: 3/7/2024 12 Drawn from ink and on stone by J & E Gould. THE BIRDS OF EUROPE, DEDICATED TO THE PRESIDENT & COUNCIL OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON BY J. GOULD, London. Published by the Author. 20, Broad Street, Golden Square 1832-1837.

13. “where would I find an illustrator or author for metamorphosis? Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, 1705 Elizabeth Gould and Edmund Lear 3/7/2024 13 AP Current Biology Textbook Maria Sibylla Merian Manuscripts and books courtesy of :

14. Cumulative results: percent women naturalists over time from key naturalist anthologies Totals in percentage: Number of total men recorded: 416,/508 = 82% Most consistently mentioned: Number of women naturalists in study: 92/508 = 18% Merian, Anning, Carson 14

15. Part II. Methodology and Results Scoping study in four steps: 1. Identification 2. screening 3. eligibility 4. scientists for in-depth study 15

16. A momentary Darwinian Digression What helped make Darwin possible? Cultivated professional mentors Cultivated network of scholarly and applied individuals Prestigious family connections and financial support Got his way onto the Beagle Attended finest schools, even though an outstanding GPA was not his goal Able to research and publish in own name Name added to scientistic societies Whatever delayed his work experienced in reaching the public was his concern rather than those unwilling to disseminate his work 3/7/2024 16

17. Gatekeepers: Disparities Affects under-represented groups The Six Barriers Education : formal and informal; interests fostered early on, especially at home; often truncated as child required to go to work Scientific societies: inability to join, had to be invited; hampered recognition Own research: women naturalists viewed as collectors or hobbyists ; unable to conduct research turning Six disparities into equivalences to achieve balance 3/7/2024 17

18. Facing the Gatekeepers: identified Disparities as Affects under-represented groups The Six Barriers (Continued) 4. Authorship: credit often determined by others, leaving out the naturalist’s name 5. F inancial support: initially unable to garner significant external funding 6. Time delay : scientific achievements appreciated and accounted for late in life turning Six disparities into equivalences to achieve balance 3/7/2024 18

19. 3/7/2024 19 1859 A Timeline for Women Naturalists; an historical perspective Specialization of biology 2012 – NG Science Standards 1986. National Biodiversity Forum 1857 - Mary Ward’s book “Sketches…: published 1859

20. paper versus digital -- output exploded with the world wide web 3/7/2024 20

21. Part Iii. A Focus on Microscopy -- Illustrating study with individual examples: 1. Mary Ward 2. Barbara M c Clintock 3. Rachel Carson 3/7/2024 21

22. Of The Six Disparities, these were faced here: Education : essential; formal and informal; interests fostered early on; eventually advanced degrees Scientific societies: inability to join, hampered recognition Own research: women naturalists viewed as hobbyists, not able to conduct own research Authorship: credit often determined by others, leaving out the naturalist’s name Financial support: unable to garner external funding Time delay : achievements appreciated and accounted for late in life Challenges and Praise “Mary became well known as an artist, naturalist, astronomer and microscopist yet she never received any formal marks of distinction.” - Byrne Merian’s books were often emulated, with images copied without permission. One print of a ripe pineapple and assorted insects was brought into a book by Johann Volkamer without giving any credit to Sibylla, nor the opportunity for royalties Mary Ward 3/7/2024 Pioneer: Mary Ward, Self-taught, published Sketches with the Microscope (1857); instruct and motivated women with the microscope

23. Of The Six Disparities, these were faced here: Education : essential; formal and informal; interests fostered early on; eventually advanced degrees Scientific societies: inability to join, hampered recognition Own research: women naturalists viewed as hobbyists, not able to conduct own research Authorship: credit often determined by others, leaving out the naturalist’s name Financial support: unable to garner external funding Time delay : achievements appreciated and accounted for late in life Barbara McClintock was persistent; refusing do give up. She believed that “If you know you are on the right track, if you have this inner knowledge, then nobody can turn you off.. No matter what they say.” Challenges and Praise Merian’s books were often emulated, with images copied without permission. One print of a ripe pineapple and assorted insects was brought into a book by Johann Volkamer without giving any credit to Sibylla, nor the opportunity for royalties Barbara McClintock made “discoveries so far beyond the understanding of the time that other scientists essentially ignored her work for more than a decade.” 3/7/2024 Sage: Barbara McClintock, American, Nobel Prize Winner, Physiology or Medicine. Cytogenetics of Maize

24. Specialist and Sage: Rachel Carson, USA * Rachel Caron shares a bond with Maria Sibylla Merian even though separated by over 250 years. * They worked against standards and customs not accustomed to questioning, nor with the involvement of professional women . * Rachel Carson confronted the entirety of the chemical industry which led to regulatory regulations and issuance of environmental impact statements. Stuart Udall said of Rachel Carson that, “a great women has awakened the nation by her forceful account of the dangers around us.” Of The Six Disparities, these were faced here: Education : essential; formal and informal; interests fostered early on; eventually advanced degrees Scientific societies: inability to join, hampered recognition Own research: women naturalists viewed as hobbyists, not able to conduct own research Authorship: credit often determined by others, leaving out the naturalist’s name Financial support: unable to garner external funding Time delay : achievements appreciated and accounted for late in life 3/7/2024 24

25. A footnote on Cooperation and Mutual Admiration Rachel Carson It was Edmund Lear who said later that “Gould owed every thing to his excellent wife, and to myself, without whose help in drawing he had done nothing. In total, Elizabeth is now accredited to at least 650 works, Some of which populated her husband’s most famous work, On the birds of Australia (pictured above.) Her work began by selling her artwork to provide an income for their family Elizabeth Gould Wife of ornithologist, J. Gould Edmond Lear Bob Hines Rachel Carson and Bob Hines, Fish and Wildlife Service Bob Hines, by special invitation, was asked to illustrate the 50 th anniversary edition of, Under the Se a Wind. This work for Rachel Carson’s classic book culminated a career in which he was hired by her to help bring her stories to life. Bob was immediately skeptical once he heard his new director would be a woman, but soon a life-long friendship developed. Elizabeth Gould and Edmond Lear, Ornithology The lighter side of E. Lear 3/7/2024 25

26. Not without a cost, six lives taken all too soon ... MARY ANNING (1799-1847) Untreated cancer Commemorating their loss and ours WANGARI MAATHAi (1940-2011) Ovarian cancer RACHEL CARSON (1907-1964) Mis-diagnosed breast cancer MARGARET MEE (1909-1988 ) Fatal car accident 3/7/2024 26 Dian Fossey (1932-1985) murdered in tent, Africa Mary Ward (1827-1869) First casualty in automobile

27. N ew Dimensions and Applications of Microscopy Life Magnified, 2023 Science and art through the microscope 27 This collection of microscopic images was designed by Art Director, Derry Noyes . Photographs were contributed by microscopists with identifying features. Each stamp was then labelled accordingly. These five images were all captured by an Associate Professor of Histology-Embryology, Maria Lambropoulou, where she works as a pathologist. These stamps reveal that “the magic of art can be found everywhere, even through the microscope.”

28. Conclusion after all the discussion, what is it there to do? “Instead of simply accepting that there are no spaces where women will not be found, we should be asking why a woman might not appear in a particular sphere and who prevented her from being there.” -- Anna Reser and Leila McNeil, from, Forces of Nature – The Women Who Changed Science (2021) OR, as applied to other underrepresented groups: “Instead of simply accepting that there are no spaces where ________ (under-represented) individuals are not found, we should be asking why such a person might not appear in a particular sphere and who prevented that person or group from being there.” 3/7/2024 28