Famous Female Scientists Who Changed the World

Throughout history, women have made extraordinary contributions to science, often overcoming significant societal and institutional barriers. Their groundbreaking discoveries have reshaped our understanding of the world and continue to inspire future generations.

Here, we highlight some of the most influential female scientists whose work has changed the course of history.

Perhaps the most famous female scientist in history was the physicist and chemist Marie Curie. Born in Poland in 1867, she would go on to change the scientific landscape and achieve a plethora of world firsts. In 1903, she became the first woman in France to receive a doctoral degree and the first woman ever to win a Nobel Prize. In 1906, when her husband and work partner, Pierre, died, Curie took over his professorship, becoming the first woman to teach at the Sorbonne. In 1911, she won her second Nobel Prize for the isolation of radium. With her first Nobel in physics and this one in chemistry, the event marked the first ever instance of anyone winning the award in two different scientific fields. And she did so much more.

Her work with Pierre led to the discovery of two elements: polonium and radium. And her research paved the way for significant advances in medicine, including the development of X-ray technology. She even coined the term “radioactivity.”

Rosalind Franklin was a brilliant chemist and X-ray crystallographer whose work was crucial in discovering the structure of DNA. Using X-ray diffraction, Franklin captured “Photograph 51,” an unprecedented image that revealed DNA’s double-helix structure. Despite her pivotal contributions, Franklin’s role was overshadowed by her male contemporaries, James Watson and Francis Crick, who were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962. Today, Franklin is rightly celebrated as a key figure in molecular biology.

Katherine Johnson was a mathematician whose work in celestial navigation helped propel humanity into space. In particular, her calculations were instrumental in NASA’s early space missions, including John Glenn’s orbit around Earth and the Apollo 11 moon landing.

As one of the first African-American women to work as a scientist at NASA, Johnson broke racial as well as gender barriers in the STEM fields. Her story was immortalised in the book and film Hidden Figures, which brought her incredible achievements to a wider audience.

Jane Goodall revolutionized our understanding of primates and their relationship to humans. Beginning her research in Tanzania in 1960, Goodall immersed herself in the world of chimpanzees, documenting behaviours such as tool use and complex social structures, both of which were previously thought to be uniquely human traits.

Goodall’s work not only reshaped primatology but also raised global awareness about wildlife conservation. As an advocate for environmental sustainability, she continues to inspire action to protect the planet.

Often referred to as the “first computer programmer,” Ada Lovelace was a mathematician and visionary who worked with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine, a precursor to modern computers. Lovelace recognized that the machine could do more than calculate numbers; it could process symbols and instructions, a concept that underpins modern computing.

Her notes on the Analytical Engine included what is now considered the first algorithm designed for implementation by a machine. Lovelace’s foresight has earned her recognition as a foundational figure in the history of computer science.

Chinese-American physicist Chien-Shiung Wu’s experiments in particle physics are classed amongst the most impactful of her time; she was an integral member of the Manhattan Project; and her work had a transformative impact on the field of nuclear science. It’s little wonder therefore that Chien-Shiung Wu has been called everything from the “Queen of Nuclear Research” to the “First Lady of Physics.” She is perhaps best known for the Wu Experiment, in which she disproved the “law of conservation of parity,” thereby toppling a cornerstone of physics at the time. Wu’s male collaborators received the 1957 Nobel Prize, while she was overlooked. She would later receive the Wolf Prize in Physics.

Barbara McClintock was a pioneering geneticist who discovered transposons. Known colloquially as “jumping genes,” these are segments of DNA that can move within a genome. Her groundbreaking work demonstrated that genes are not fixed but can change positions, influencing genetic traits.

Initially met with skepticism, McClintock’s research was later recognised as a cornerstone of modern genetics. In 1983, she received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, becoming the first woman to receive the award solo.

Rachel Carson was a marine biologist and conservationist whose work led to a global environmental movement. Her seminal book, Silent Spring (1962), exposed the dangers of pesticides like DDT and their impact on ecosystems. Carson’s eloquent advocacy for sustainable environmental practices spurred the creation of policies such as the US Clean Air Act and the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Dorothy Hodgkin was a biochemist who advanced the use of X-ray crystallography to determine the structures of important biomolecules. Her work unveiled the three-dimensional structures of penicillin, vitamin B12, and insulin.

In 1964, Hodgkin was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her contributions to molecular biology. Her discoveries have had a lasting impact on medicine, particularly in understanding and treating diseases like diabetes.

Tu Youyou, a Chinese pharmaceutical chemist, revolutionised the treatment of malaria by discovering artemisinin, a drug that has saved millions of lives. Drawing on ancient Chinese medicine, Tu isolated the compound from sweet wormwood, a plant used in traditional remedies. In 2015, Tu became the first Chinese woman to receive a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Her work highlighted the value of integrating traditional knowledge with modern science.

From discovering new elements and medicines to revealing the secrets of DNA and giving voice to environmental concerns, these pioneering scientists have changed the world in immeasurable ways.