Four books on women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Medicine (STEM)
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Compared to other countries, women in STEM are far better represented in India. Thanks a lot t focused efforts by the government, industry and academia in attracting and encouraging women in STEM. This is very encouraging, and if you’re either working in STEM or hoping to do so, here are five books to help you better understand the prospects in STEM, and success stories which will inspire you to move ahead in this field. .
Lilavati’s Daughters -The Women Scientists of India
Very relevant for Indian women in Sciences, this book is a collection of biographical and autobiographical essays of 100 Indian women scientists post-Independence in India. It is an account of the challenges faced by Indian women in the many scientific fields in which they chose to work. The essays discuss the initiation of these women into science, their struggles and what helped them succeed in a male-dominated field. The situations discussed are relevant till date.
Obsessive Genius – The Inner World Of Marie Curie by Barbara Goldsmith
An inspiration for women and men alike, this book clearly delineates Madam Curie’s life and the work she was known for.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
A New York Times bestseller, this book is not about women in science but about a woman who was the subject of Science. Henrietta Lack’s cell lines (HeLa) were the first ever human cell lines to be studied in science. This book describes the science, finances and politics behind HeLa Cells, and details Lacks’ family life and much more making for compelling reading.
Nobel Prize Women in Science: Their Lives, Struggles, and Momentous Discoveries by Sharon Bertsch McGrayne
Not much is known about the lives and challenges of world-renowned women scientists or the discrimination they faced. The glass ceilings which they were pushing against, are still present. This book details the struggles of women scientists such as Emmy Noether, Lise Meitner, Marie Curie who were pioneers in the world of science.
