Packed with fascinating biographical sketches of female engineers, this chronological history of engineering brightens previously shadowy corners of our increasingly engineered world’s recent past. In addition to a detailed description of the diverse arenas encompassed by the word ‘engineering’ and a nuanced overview of the development of the field, the book includes numerous statistics and thought provoking facts about women’s roles in the achievement of thrilling scientific innovations. This text is a unique resource for students launching research projects in engineering and related fields, professionals interested in gaining a broader understanding of how engineering as a discipline has been impacted by events of global significance, and scholars of women’s immense, often obscured, contributions to scientific progress.

Scientific Women

by Jill S Tietjen

Published 31 July 2020

The book highlights women’s contributions to science, which have often been marginalized and overlooked throughout history. The book first provides an overview of the development of the various science professions over time - placed in socioeconomic and cultural contexts - and women’s role in the sciences throughout history. The author then exemplifies - through history, example, and case studies - that although women were denied a scientific education until fairly recently in our history, they have nevertheless demonstrated intellect and capability in mathematics, physical sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and computer sciences throughout time. Biographies of women who contributed to these fields since before the Common Era are interwoven into a discussion of the development of the scientific profession, the advancement of education, the professionalization of the various scientific occupations, and the advancement of women in society. This book is a follow up to the author's book “Engineering Women: Re-visioning Women's Scientific Achievements and Impacts” (Springer 2017). The author, Jill Tietjen, is the series editor for Springer’s Women in Engineering and Science book series.

  • Illuminates the many significant contributions of women in the sciences;
  • Educates readers about the evolution of women’s participation in the scientific fields over the last century;
  • Demonstrates how key scientific advances are driven by socio-economic and cultural contexts.