Essential Biographies of Women in STEM to Read Now

This biography chronicles the life of Glenn T. Seaborg's collaborator, but more importantly, it often highlights the critical yet overlooked role of women like the discovery of transuranium elements. It provides deep insight into the collaborative nature of mid-century nuclear physics.

While primarily an educational guide by Barbara Oakley, this book serves as a biographical narrative of her own journey from a math-phobic teen to a professor of engineering. It offers a compelling personal story of overcoming academic barriers in STEM fields.

This biography meticulously reconstructs the life of the chemist whose X-ray diffraction images were critical to understanding the double helix structure of DNA. It addresses the historical controversy surrounding her recognition and contributions to molecular biology.

Clemantine Wamariya's memoir details her survival of the Rwandan genocide and her subsequent journey to become a clinical psychologist at Columbia University. It is a powerful testament to resilience and the transformative power of education in overcoming trauma.

Tami Charles's young adult biography explores the life of Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician whose calculations were vital to the success of the first U.S. manned spaceflights. It highlights her determination to break racial and gender barriers in the 20th century.

Eve Curie's classic biography offers an intimate portrait of her mother, Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. It details her pioneering research on radioactivity and her struggles as a woman in the scientific community of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This collection of essays and biographical sketches by Londa Schiebinger provides a feminist perspective on the history of science. It analyzes how gender biases have shaped scientific knowledge and highlights the contributions of women who were historically excluded from academic circles.

Margot Lee Shetterly's narrative tells the story of African American female mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race. Their calculations were crucial to the success of John Glenn's orbit and the Apollo moon landings, yet they remained unknown for decades.

Hope Jahren's memoir blends memoir with geological and botanical science, detailing her journey through a male-dominated field. It offers a raw look at the passion, failures, and perseverance required to build a career in earth sciences.

Sylvia Nasar's biography of John Nash is often read alongside works on women in science, particularly for its inclusion of Alicia Nash. However, for a direct focus, consider 'The Last Unicorn' which focuses on female theoretical physicists.

This comprehensive biography focuses on Maria Goeppert Mayer, the only woman to win the Nobel Prize in Physics in the 20th century. It details her work on quantum mechanics and her struggle to gain recognition in a field dominated by men.

Richard Leakey's biography portrays Jane Goodall's revolutionary primatological research that challenged anthropocentric views of humanity. It highlights her empathy-driven methodology and her lifelong advocacy for conservation and animal rights.

This biography details the life of Admiral Grace Hopper, a pioneer of computer programming who developed the first compiler. Her work laid the foundation for COBOL and modern software development, breaking significant barriers for women in technology.

Rebecca Skloot's narrative weaves together the story of Henrietta Lacks, whose cancer cells were taken without consent and became immortal in medical research. It raises ethical questions about medical consent while highlighting the impact of her cells on biological science.

This book profiles 34 pioneering women in science who defied convention and societal expectations. From Marie Curie to Barbara McClintock, it offers short, impactful biographies that inspire a new generation of female scientists and engineers.

Siddhartha Mukherji's work includes significant biographical elements regarding the women who contributed to genetics, though it is primarily a history of the science. It provides context for the ethical and scientific debates surrounding genetic engineering and inheritance.

This biography by Sally Ride's contemporaries and colleagues details her life as the first American woman in space. It explores her passion for physics, her role in NASA, and her later advocacy for STEM education among young girls.

While focused on Wilbur and Orville, this book by David McCullough often features Mary Kaye, who assisted in their wind tunnel experiments. It offers a nuanced look at the collaborative efforts behind aviation history, though other biographies may focus more directly on female engineers.

This book by Jessica Stoddard and others addresses the systemic barriers women face in professional environments, including STEM fields. It combines personal anecdotes with scientific research to provide strategies for navigating workplace bias and advancing careers in science.

This anthology presents biographical essays on numerous women scientists from the 17th to the 20th centuries. It provides a broad overview of the challenges these women faced and their enduring contributions to fields such as astronomy, biology, and mathematics.