Women Inventors Hidden In History

Women Inventors Hidden In History
Science Superstars

Girls and women in STEM fields today are following in the
footsteps of very brave, committed pioneers. Today in the second part
of this series we are going to celebrate these totally awesome woman
trailblazers.

Did you use a filter in your coffee machine today?
When you drive during a rain or snow storm are you glad to have
windshield wipers?
Does your home security system add to your piece of mind when
you go on vacation?
If you answered yes to any of these questions you owe a debt of
gratitude to a women inventor. Sadly we know very little about them
as opposed to their male counterparts.
In her Women Inventors: Hidden In History Petrice Custance seeks
to change that sorry state of affairs. She introduces younger readers
to women around the world who harnessed their imagination, brain
power, and common sense into creating something new such as:
*Josephine who invented the dish washer;
*Jeanne Villepreux-Power who created the first aquarium to study
marine life;
and *Ng Mui, a Buddhist nun who invented a form of kung fu.
This lively and inspiring book is a good purchase for school and
public libraries.

"These are just a few of the many remarkable women who took science by
storm by imagining the possibilities instead of settling for the
status quo. Although they span dozens of specialties, all of these
women have a few things in common: First, they embraced their
curiosity. Second, they found joy in their work. And, third, they
didn't let anything--not racism, sexism, ignorance, or even war--stand
in their way."
Those elementary school years are a window of opportunity for
cultivating interest in STEM careers. Outer space, dinosaurs,
computers, and the environment are only a few of the science topics
that capture kids' imaginations. Schools are finally catching on to
the idea that hands on exploration is the key to making science come
to life. Jennifer Calvert's Science Superstars: 30 Brilliant Women
Who Changed The World can provide lots of inspiration for future
superstars and show skeptical boys that it's no longer a guys only game.
The thirty women profiled span centuries, nations, and
specialties. A few of the ones you'll meet up with are:
*England's Mary Anning who excavated dinosaur skeletons at a time when
the earth was believed to be only a few thousand years old and
extinction was a novel concept. Can you imagine doing that messy,
dangerous work in the cumbersome garments 19th century women wore?
*Gertrude Caton Sexton who, while on an archeological expedition in
Zimbabwe, then called Rhodesia, proved that the site, considered to be
the work of 'superior' whites, was actually built by the native
population. Can you imagine the hate mail she received?;
*America's Barbara McClintock whose study of corn changed much of our
understanding of genes. Her mom had tried to keep her out of higher
education for fear that a college degree might intimidate prospective
husbands.;
and Katherine Johnson who saw her greatest achievment as contributing
to the moon landing.
This book is also a great purchase for school and public
libraries.

On a purrrsonal note, I didn't forget I was going to tell you about
the Spring Festival last Sunday. It was amazing!!! I had so much ice
cream I lost my appetite for supper. I painted a flower pot for my
church friend Emily's Easter present. And I made myself a cunning
stuff a buddy bear. The week has been great. Weather has been spring
like. My daffodils are coming up. School is awesome. Work is
joyful. And people are still telling me how great I was on the drag
show. Life is sweet! (Jules)
Tomorrow night the Easter Bunny will deliver cat treats to all the
good kitties. I'm not sure how or why. But I'm not going to question
good luck. (Tobago).
A great big shout out goes out to you, our readers, with best wishes
for any religious celebrations that might be on your calendar!
Tobago and Jules Hathaway








Sent from my iPod