When you think of the most outstanding scientists in history, names like Thomas Alva Edison, Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton often come to mind. Yet, throughout history, the stories of countless scientists – regardless of whether they received credit or not – remain untold. Unironically and unfortunately, most of these unsung heroes were subject to immense gender and racial discrimination over the course of their careers.
Eunice Foote: If her discovery wasn’t overlooked a century ago, we might have been able to prevent the sorry state of our planet and the environment. In a simple experiment with two glass jars of carbon dioxide, moist air, and a thermometer, Foote pioneered the research of greenhouse gases and global warming, illustrating how an atmosphere of carbon dioxide would contribute to high temperatures. Though her paper was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, it was her colleague who presented her research; she was allegedly not allowed to present it herself as a woman.
Charles H. Turner: As the first black man to receive a graduate degree from the University of Cincinnati, Charles Henry Turner reached great heights as a biologist conducting cognitive research on animals. He was denied employment at numerous research facilities owing to his race, owing to which he started teaching at a high school for black students. While scientists commonly believed that insects were incapable of decision making or conscious thinking, Turner was able to disprove this despite being limited to a high school lab. His work, however, was ignored.
Anna Mani: While women sparsely populated the scientific field, Anna Manni was an Indian meteorologist and physicist who stood out. She pioneered wind and solar power research, standardised more than 100 meteorological instruments, and conducted an extensive study on Ozone levels alongside working with Sir C. V. Raman. Despite her impressive resume, she was denied a PhD by Madras University simply because of her gender.
These are among countless wonders in science which could not become household names due to societal prejudices and thinking. Still, it is uplifting to know that future budding scientists will not have to face the same discrimination as they pursue the vast and intriguing field.
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