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2700 BCE
Merit-Ptah
Ancient Egyptian described as a "chief physician". One of the earliest known female scientists. -
Period: 350 to 415
Hypatia of Alexandria
Teacher at the Neoplatonic School in Alexandria. Taught astronomy, philosophy, & mathematics. Recognized as the first known female mathematician. -
Period: 1360 to 1436
Dorotea Bucca
Distinguished Italian physician. Held a chair of philosophy and medicine at the University of Bologna for over 40 years. -
Period: to
Maria Winkelmann
The most famous female astronomer in Germany. -
Period: to
Laura Bassi
Italian physicist and academic. First woman to earn a university chair in a scientific field of study in Europe. -
Period: to
Maria Mitchell
First American to become a professional astronomer. Discovered a comet in 1847. First woman member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. -
Period: to
Florence Nightingale
Founder of modern nursing. Established a school of nursing in London in 1860. -
Period: to
Elizabeth Blackwell
First certified female doctor in the United States. Founded the first women's medical college in 1868. -
Period: to
Marie Curie
Physicist and Chemist. Conducted pioneering research on radiation. First woman to win a Nobel Prize. -
Period: to
Maria Montessori
Italian physician and educator. First woman in southern Europe to qualify as a physician. Founded educational theory that is still used today. -
Period: to
Gerty Cori
American biochemist. First American woman to win a Nobel Prize in science. -
Period: to
Rosalind Franklin
English chemist and X-ray crystallographer. Her work allowed Watson and Crick to discover the structure of DNA though they did not credit her. -
Period: to
Sally Ride
Astrophysicist and astronaut. First American woman to travel to outerspace.