Women in Science: Rachel Ignotofsky

BEFORE watching the video, look at our list of Scientists and Engineers that We Know. Read through all of the names. What do you notice?

Now, find 1 or 2 words that summarizes what you noticed. Your words will go into a word cloud from everyone's responses. Make sure your response is appropriate. Your name is attached to every response.

What was the speaker's primary challenge with reading as a child?

• She found the material boring and unengaging.

• She experienced severe migraines and difficulty connecting with the text due to a lazy eye.

• She was diagnosed with dyslexia, which made reading impossible.

• Her teachers did not provide her with appropriate reading materials.

What type of books ultimately helped the speaker enjoy learning and feel smart?

• Classic literature and dense academic texts.

• Illustrated books, comic books, and cartoons.

• Biographies of famous historical figures.

• Textbooks focused on science and history.

What is the speaker's philosophy behind creating her illustrated educational books?

• To simplify complex topics so they require minimal effort to understand.

• To make dense information beautiful and accessible, thereby 'tricking' people into learning.

• To exclusively feature well-known historical figures to ensure recognition.

• To replace traditional forms of education with visual learning.

Despite facing significant societal barriers, what was Mary Anning's major contribution to science?

• She developed the first successful vaccine for a common disease.

• She discovered the first complete skeletons of Ichthyosaurus and Plesiosaurus, pioneering the field of paleontology.

• She was the first woman to lead a major scientific expedition.

• She invented a new method for preserving ancient artifacts.

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What was the primary reason Lise Meitner had to flee to Sweden?

• She was offered a better research position.

• The outbreak of World War I.

• The rise of Hitler and the Holocaust, as she was Jewish.

• She wanted to collaborate with Swedish scientists.

What significant scientific discovery did Lise Meitner realize while she was a refugee in Sweden?

• The theory of relativity

• Nuclear fusion

• Nuclear fission

• The structure of DNA

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What was Katherine Johnson's initial role at NASA, reflecting the limitations faced by women with math degrees at the time?

• Lead engineer

• Astronaut

• Computer

• Project manager

What are two main reasons why many women in science are not household names?

• Lack of talent and interest in science.

• Institutionalized sexism and a lack of accessible materials.

• Preference for working behind the scenes and limited media coverage.

• Insufficient funding for their research and poor networking skills.