Annie Alexander went on several paleontological expeditions in the early 1900’s. These trips highlight the difficulties that women face in the field. I use her story as a backdrop to discuss discrimination in the field today and how in many ways it has not improved since Alexander’s 1905 “Saurian Expedition.”
We stand on the shoulders of giants. Florence Bascom owes her success to a series of strong mentors who helped her thrive in a discriminatory world. She in turn mentored many of the top women in geology and paleontology of the 20th Century. Her story shows the power of mentors to make geosciences more inclusive.
Florence Bascom faced discrimination throughout her life that left her isolated. I discuss Bascom’s struggles with discrimination and use that to highlight the abuse and bias women still face in geosciences.
Florence Bascom forever changed the landscape of geology in the United States. She was the first woman professional geologist in the US, and she made many contributions that are still cited today. She truly was a foundational scientist.
Mary Ann Martell may have discovered Iguanodon, but all the credit was given to her husband. She was an amazing paleontologist and illustrator, and this week I briefly discuss her amazing discovery.
Mary Anning owed her aptitude as a paleontologist to her friends and colleagues. The sexist beliefs of some of these allies also prevented her from reaching her full potential. This week, I look into how Mary’s relationships shaped her and inform us on her real personality.
Calcareous nannofossil species are 3.5x as likely to be named after men than women, a subtle sign of gender bias in paleontology.
Bias in the Fossil Record 