Today, February 11, is “Women and girls in Science Day”, so I thought it would be only fitting that we write a bit about one of the most influential women in the protection of the environment, Rachel Carson.
Rachel Carson (1907–1964) was an influential American marine biologist, author, and conservationist whose work revolutionized the global environmental movement. Born in Springdale, Pennsylvania, Carson studied biology at Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham University) and earned a master’s degree in zoology from Johns Hopkins University.
Her career began with the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries (later the Fish and Wildlife Service), where she became one of the first women to hold a senior position. During this time, she published acclaimed books about the sea, including Under the Sea-Wind (1941), The Sea Around Us (1951), and The Edge of the Sea (1955), which showcased her ability to combine scientific insight with lyrical prose. These works brought ocean science to the general public and earned her widespread recognition.
Carson is best known for her groundbreaking book Silent Spring (1962), which exposed the dangers of pesticide overuse, particularly DDT, to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. Through meticulous research and persuasive writing, she highlighted the unintended consequences of chemical pollution, challenging the practices of agricultural and chemical industries. Silent Spring sparked a public outcry, leading to policy changes, increased regulation of pesticides, and the eventual ban of DDT in the United States. Her work played a significant role in the formation of the modern environmental movement and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970.
Despite facing criticism and personal health challenges, including her battle with breast cancer, Carson remained committed to advocating for ecological balance and environmental stewardship until her death in 1964. She is remembered as a pioneer of environmental science and a champion for protecting the natural world.
Two years following her passing in 1966, a National Wildlife Refuge was established in Wells, Maine. This Wildlife refuge seeks to be a safe haven for the birds and animals that she worked her life to protect.
Although it has been many years since she passed, Rachel Carson and her work with environmental protection inspires countless young minds even to this day. The effects of her work have helped countless species of animals and plants rebound from the harmful effects of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
Here at the Shaw Institute, we were founded by our own incredible woman in Science with a passion for protecting the environment, Susan Shaw! In 1989, Susan moved to Blue Hill, Maine from Texas and instantly fell in love with the local flora and fauna found along the Downeast coast. Particularly the charismatic harbor seals. She opened her own research institute to study the types of pollution that might be affecting the wildlife in the area.
For over 30 years, she utilized her platform to work with scientists across the globe, tackling urgent environmental and public health issues such as plastics, ocean pollution, flame retardants, and climate change. Recognized as a Gulf of Maine Visionary in 2007, she was the first scientist to uncover the extensive contamination of fish and marine mammals in the northwest Atlantic, caused by flame retardant chemicals leaching from furniture. For this work she received a Citation of Recognition from the governor of the State of Maine! This research continues to this day.
“It’s important to celebrate and recognize Susan and Rachel on “Women and Girls in Science Day” since they both forged paths in a field where very few women not only worked but especially in a field where their efforts weren’t always recognized or acknowledged,” said Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director of the Shaw Institute. “Their hard work and values guide us as we foster a connection between younger generations and the environment.”
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LATE FOUNDER, DR. SUSAN SHAW
