Considering that modern American society has only truly acknowledged the legitimacy of women in sciences for say, the last twenty years, a website on 4000 years of women in science is truly an inspiration! The low-maintenance, grassroots (but colorful!) site includes an introduction, 125 biographies, accompanying photographs with enlargeable images, and references from books, articles, and catalogues. Biographies are listed through links in the following ways: chronological (beginning in 1878 B.C.!), alphabetical, and in individual frames for easy viewing. Another link titled, "20th Century Women," isolates the most recent female contributors to science. Professions listed include inventors, scholars, and writers, as well as mathematicians and astronomers. The page scrolls down below the main page to offer a "Did You Know?" section, which includes short trivia with links for further information; an interactive quiz on the history of women in science (with an opportunity to put your name in the Hall of Fame); a Java-enabled crossword puzzle; a comment form; and learning links to related sites.
In their introduction, the site’s creators, a female professor at the University of Alabama and a female scientist at the National Science Foundation (whose series of past talks have provided the bulk of material for this site), provide more than just a summary of the history of women in science. The Introduction is worth exploring by all interested educators for its overall definition of science and the observation that the results of science truly have no gender.
Depending on how a teacher wants to use the information found on this site, any of it is as appropriate for upper-elementary or middle-school students as it is for high-school, college, and general audiences. Even the crossword puzzle is workable by multiple ages, as its clues refer back to the various biographical readings.
I detected no glaring errors other than one or two out-of-date links, which is the inevitable result of having so many links embedded in one site. The site was last updated in May of 1999. An autumn sweep may clear up the blanks.
**Review Updated: 8/24/05
This site does not appear to have undergone any major changes since it was last reviewed. It is still functional. Most of the links appear to be working and the site was last updated in April 2003.
