Oct 06, 2025

From Jane Goodall to Vandana Shiva: Women who changed our perception towards life on earth

Aanya Mehta

Jane Goodall

British ethologist Jane Goodall is renowned for her ground breaking research on chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. Her observations challenged previous beliefs about the uniqueness of humans, revealing that chimpanzees use tools and have complex social behaviours.

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Barbara McClintock

American scientist Barbara McClintock was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983 for her discovery of "jumping genes," or transposons.

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Maria Sibylla Merian

German born naturalist and scientific illustrator Maria Sibylla Merian made significant contributions to the study of entomology. .

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Vandana Shiva

Indian physicist and environmental activist Vandana Shiva founded the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Ecology in 1982. She has been a vocal critic of industrial agriculture and biotechnology, advocating for biodiversity and sustainable farming practices.

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Rachel Carson

American marine biologist and conservationist Rachel Carson is best known for her book Silent Spring (1962), which challenged the practices of agricultural scientists. Her work led to a nationwide ban on DDT.

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Rosalind Franklin

British chemist and co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, Rosalind Franklin's X-ray diffraction images of DNA were critical in the discovery of its double helix structure.

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Sylvia Earle

American marine biologist Sylvia Earle is a pioneer for ocean conservation. She has led more than 100 oceanic expeditions and was the first woman to become chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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Wangari Maathai

Kenyan environmental and political activist Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental organization that focuses on tree planting, environmental conservation, and women's empowerment.

Source: wikimedia commons

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