Legacy of Women In Science
Honoring the women whose contributions have shaped the course of scientific discovery.
The Journey of Women in Science
Marie Curie was the first female scientist to receive the Nobel Prize in 1903, and she remains the only woman to have been honored twice—receiving the Nobel Prize in Physics (1903) and Chemistry (1911). Her groundbreaking achievements paved the way for women in science, but significant gender disparities persist.
As of 2024, women have been awarded the Nobel Prize 66 times, but only a small fraction of these honors have been in the scientific fields of physics, chemistry, and medicine. In physics and chemistry, women make up fewer than five percent of all laureates, underscoring the barriers that female scientists have historically faced. In the figure below, we can see the statistics chart of Nobel Prize winners, which visually highlights the underrepresentation of women in these fields.
Despite these challenges, women continue to make extraordinary contributions to scientific progress. For example, Donna Strickland was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018 for her work on high-intensity lasers, and Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna received the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing CRISPR gene-editing technology.
While progress has been made, the journey of women in science is far from over. Recognizing the achievements of female scientists is essential to inspiring future generations and narrowing the gender gap in scientific recognition. By continuing to highlight their stories and contributions, we can better understand the barriers they have overcome and celebrate the extraordinary impact they have had on shaping scientific progress.
