Saving Nature: 11 Women to Watch in Science
These women are using their hard-earned knowledge to protect our planet already ravaged by brutal storms, epic floods and intense wildfires.
Letter from the Editor
We live in a time when words like “women,” “gender” and “diversity” are banned or restricted in federal research grants, particularly at agencies like the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health.
Yet that has not stopped trailblazing women from searching for urgent, innovative, science-based solutions to the human-caused “climate crisis” (another phrase that’s been banned, along with “global warming” and “emissions”).
These scientists are working to safeguard the safety of our water, air and soil. They’re seeking the smartest ways we can transition to clean energy. They’re pushing their limits to stop deforestation and curb greenhouse gas emissions. And they’re doing it within a system that – on top of the banned words and the Trump administration’s rollback of environmental protections — has long discriminated against them. Research confirms that women in science are paid less, given fewer leadership roles, and receive far less recognition than their male peers.
We can help with that last problem.
At The Story Exchange, we have long elevated women’s voices and achievements. Today, we are thrilled to spotlight these women scientists — nominated by peers — who are working tirelessly on our behalf. Their efforts alone will, of course, not be enough to save our natural world. We need thousands of committed scientists (and business and industries) like them. But their stories, dedication and perseverance can surely inspire others to try to do the same – and maybe just give the Earth a fighting chance.
Making Butter in a Lab – No Plants or Animals Needed
At Savor, Kathleen Alexander is using organic chemistry to create fats and cooking oils that won't damage the planet.
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Searching for Snow in the Water-Strapped West
Marianne Cowherd, a snow hydrologist, is unpacking the shifting nature of snowfall – and what it means for water availability.
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Inspired by Alaska Upbringing, This Scientist is Exploring the 'Edge of Possibility'
Liz Dennett is the founder of Endolith, which uses microbes to extract critical minerals for clean energy.
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From Dew on Plant Leaves to Tropical Rivers, She Follows the Water
At Berkeley, Cynthia Gerlein-Safdi leads research on how climate change disrupts water cycles.
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She Turns Textile Waste Into a Climate Solution
In Detroit,Madeline Walker Miller of NexTiles is giving a second life to fabric shreds from fashion, automotive and aircraft companies.
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She Rowed Across Crocodile-Infested Waters – and Became a Better Leader
Rebecca Peters of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center translates science into practical action. Fieldwork is key, she says.
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After Wildfires, This Scientist Reads the Future of the Land
In Yellowstone and beyond, Katherine Siegel blends high-tech data with on-the-ground conversations to help save iconic landscapes.
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Protecting the Earth, One American Rancher at a Time
Rural sociologist Ada Smith helps ranching communities in the West adapt to climate change. The work is more mental than you’d think, she says.
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This Scientist Studies Better Grazing Practices – for Cows, and the Earth
Paige Stanley of Colorado State University studies carbon in the soils and works with ranchers to heal their land.
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She's Helping Cities Manage Stormwater Floods
In South Carolina, Sarah Waickowski investigates the use of green streets, rain gardens and permeable pavements to improve water quality and reduce flooding.
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Imagining a World Without Food Waste
Yagmur Yegin's biodegradable food technology, developed at MIT, could extend shelf life without refrigeration.
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