Women in Chemistry Tour

Every Saturday, the Science History Institute’s museum offers drop-in tours that give visitors the opportunity to hear the stories behind our objects. Join our museum educators this Saturday as we shine a light on the role of women in shaping chemistry throughout history. The Women in Chemistry Tour profiles women chemists from antiquity to the present, sharing stories of innovation, resistance, and change. On this tour, you’ll learn about the legendary founding women of alchemy, explore the connections between domesticity and distillation, and understand how wartime changed the field. Guests will be introduced to pioneering chemists and chemistry educators, such as 17th-century French alchemist Marie Meurdrac; Mary Maynard Daly, the first Black woman in America to receive a PhD in chemistry; and the uncredited women who labor in the chemical and technological industries. Together, we will explore how the sciences can become more accessible, not only to women, but to anyone who has been marginalized or excluded. Our longer tours are designed to offer visitors a comprehensive exploration of artifacts in our collection with unique stories. These tours last approximately 50 minutes and provide a deeper understanding of how science history and the present day are linked. Featured image: Evelyn Kieffer using reactor flask at Hercules Brunswick plant, circa July 1960. Curious about the other half of the Science History Institute? Step into the Othmer Library of Chemical History! It’s Nobel Prize Week! Celebrate with us and see what’s behind one of the most coveted science awards. Join our museum educators as we explore the history of the materials that fashion our clothes. Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.