Out of the Shadows: Contributions of Twentieth-Century Women to Physics

by Nina Byers (Editor), Gary Williams (Editor)

Why are there so few prominent female physicists? Traditionally women have faced barriers in higher education, denying them access to higher learning and scientific laboratories. Today many of these barriers have been breached, but the female pioneers who overcame discrimination and became major players in their fields remain largely in the shadows. Their names deserve to be known and the importance of their work, achievements and contributions to science warrant recognition. Originally published in 2006, Out of the Shadows provides an accurate and authoritative description of the women who made original and important contributions to physics in the twentieth century, documenting their major discoveries and putting their work into its historical context. Each chapter concentrates on a different woman, and is written by a physicist with considerable experience in their field. The book is an ideal reference for anyone with an interest in science and social history.

Genres: Science

498 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2010

Reviews

[Mommalibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have probably never heard of any of the women in this book other than Marie Curie and her daughter Irene Joliot-Curie but they made discoveries which have advanced physics as much if not more than many of the men for which phenomena and laws have been named. The earliest entry is Hertha Ayrton who lived from 1854 - 1923. The most recent ones were born after WWII and are still living and working. So why a book dedicated to women in the science of physics? Because they have heretofore been invisible. Because they have worked without pay or respect. Because they loved the work. Because maybe they will inspire more young women to consider this very male-dominated field.

The most recent woman in the book, who is still living and working was turned down for graduate school at Princeton - "she received a reply stating that Princeton would not accept women unless they were the wives of faculty." After the commencement ceremony in 1964, in which Harvard awarded her a masters degree, a guard removed her from the free lunch provided afterwards and said "that for the past 100 years, women were never permitted to attend the lunch." Perhaps you are so young that 1964 seems like ancient history and feel everything is great now. I hope you indeed find life that way. It was not always so fair but serious scientists did not let that stop them.

The scientific work covers 1876 - 1976. "The essays here are generally presented in three sections; the first, and usually the longest, is a detailed exposition of major discoveries and their significance; the second is a brief biography focusing mainly on the subject's life in science; the third gives biographical details and references to original papers and suggested further reading." The science will overwhelm 80% of readers, as it did me, but I still felt I got something out of reading it. The women included were selected from a list of more than 200 nominations made in 1995 to the American Physical Society. The scientific essays are written by knowledgeable scientists in each particular area of work.

Consider this a box of chocolates, packaged by Cambridge University Press. Start anywhere and read about an inspirational female physicists. You will probably want to read more.