ThinkHer

Before I write about anyone, I tend to look at the quotes and comments attributed to them to see how much of their personality I can connect with. I think of science as a work in progress, a continuous effort to unravel each knot to reveal some mysteries. So, Dorothy Hodgkin’s words, more than those of most scientists, resonate deeply with me whether it is “ The beauty of science lies in the intricate complexities of the natural world ” or “ Mistakes are inherent in scientific research and are valuable learning opportunities ”.  But for me, the quote that captures the essence of both her life and work would be “ Science does not exist in isolation; it is influenced by social, economic, and political factors ”.  Dorothy  was not just a brilliant scientist; she was a woman of vision, deeply aware of the world around her and the role science plays in shaping it. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin with her crystal structures and during the Nobel awarding ceremony Dorothy Mary Crowfoot ...

When you pick up the memoir of a Nobel Prize-winning scientist detailing a groundbreaking discovery, you expect to be inspired. You anticipate admiration for the brilliance and perseverance of those involved. What you don’t expect is to finish the book with a deep sense of anger and resentment toward its author. Yet that’s exactly what happened when I read ' The Double Helix'  by James Watson, his account of the discovery of DNA’s structure. Instead of inspiration, I was left with a heavy heart for Rosalind Franklin, who should have been known as a co-discoverer along with Maurice Wilkins, Watson, and Francis Crick.   Rosalind Franklin  © Novartis Foundation Born on July 25, 1920, in Notting Hill, London, Rosalind Franklin grew up in an affluent Anglo-Jewish family that valued education for both men and women. A brilliant and independent child, she excelled at St. Paul’s Girls’ School, where she developed a strong passion for science. She went on to study chemistry a...