In this collection of “Stories about women Scientists” (as the subtitle runs), the lives of female scientists are illustrated by talented female artists. a lot of of the subjects will regrettably be unknown to the casual reader, which makes the stories even a lot more satisfying and enlightening.
Dignifying science includes stories illustrated by Donna Barr, Stephanie Gladden, Roberta Gregory, Lea Hernandez, Carla speed McNeil, Linda Medley, Marie Severin, Jen Sorensen, and Anne Timmons, with a cover by Ramona Fradon and Mary Fleener. All chapters are written by Jim Ottaviani.
The book starts off with two pages on the best-known female scientist, Marie Curie, illustrated by Marie Severin. Her words, in a letter to her brother, state, “We need to have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves,” as the art shows her near freezing to death, illustrating her sacrifice for her work. Her dedication, combined with the immense struggles she faced, sets the tone for the stories to follow.
Next is the most popular of the book’s experimenters, although not in the expected way. Carla speed McNeil’s beautifully clear artwork tells the story of Hedy Lamarr, the popular motion picture actress, who had a patent on control systems for torpedos that used frequency switching. Without her invention, we wouldn’t have that vital modern device, the cell phone. Plus, her story consists of a dramatic escape from the control of her husband, a munitions manufacturer.
Barbara McClintock (art by Lea Hernandez) won a Nobel prize for her work with corn genetics, and Biruté Galdikas (art by Anne Timmons) studied orangutans in Borneo. Jen Sorensen’s normal thick-line style illustrates the story of Lise Meitner, showing some of her experiments that were crucial in understanding atomic fission and energy. Rosalind Franklin’s story is drawn by Stephanie Gladden with inserts by Donna Barr, Roberta Gregory, and Linda Medley. The style changes indicate changes in perspective, with Franklin’s rather prickly personality discussed by her colleagues. This inability to get along easily with others likely accounts for her work in figuring out the structure of DNA being overlooked.
The GT Labs web site has a lot more information, including preview pages.
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