Pick a Card, Discover a Story from Volume 2

Our second volume of playing cards, Women in Science and Math, features women from many different scientific disciplines. We wanted to broaden the number of fields in the deck so girls can learn about all the amazing things that scientists pursue. As much as I love Physics, the other sciences and math are cool too!

As I researched women for this deck, I discovered that every person I chose has had a complex and interesting life. Many struggled to get an education. Most are trailblazers. Few can be summed up in a sentence or two. So unlike Volume 1, which lists each woman’s main accomplishments, I decided on a minimalist approach. Each card lists the person’s name, highest degree achieved, school, and the date of the degree. I want you to find out why the woman is in the deck, what her accomplishments are, and what challenges she faced. After you learn her story, tell it to someone else. Inspire others to pursue science!

As you research, you’ll learn about an M.D. astronaut who served in the Peace Corps, is an accomplished dancer, and an author. You’ll find out which woman pursued flavor chemistry with the goal of removing the “tired taste” from chicken. You’ll learn about a woman who provides health and wellness education for African-Americans, championed sickle-cell anemia screening for infants, and produced a documentary film. You’ll meet the “Termite Lady” who co-discovered the Florida damp wood termite. You’ll find out who terrified her family by collecting snakes as a child and now studies dragonflies and damselflies. 

If you like duck, you’ll be grateful to learn about the woman who isolated the bacteria responsible for killing commercially raised Long Island duck. You’ll become acquainted with the woman who started her education in a one-room schoolhouse, pursued thermochemistry, and ended up as the Chairman of the Board of General Mills Foundation. You may notice that one woman in the deck has two masters degrees listed. She died while pursing her doctorate. Find out what caused her death. Then there is the woman who has only a Bachelors degree. How did she end up in the deck? What is her claim to scientific fame?

I invite you to pick a card, any card, from Volume 2. Learn the story of that woman and share it with others. Get Volume 2 for a girl you know and encourage her to learn about each of the scientists and mathematicians in the deck.

-Bunny Laden