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GAME-CHANGER 365
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A Woman or Girl from around the World whose pioneer invention or discovery in the field of Science or Technology merits global recognition
The Game-Changers
By identifying women and girls who are diverse and innovative problem-solvers and sharing their story of impact, Women@TheFrontier provides global Inspiration, public Education, and community Connection with the ultimate goal to Balance the Role Model Ratio. In 2017, in partnership with Singularity University, we launched a new campaign: “Game-Changer 365” #GC365. Our goal? To feature 365 trailblazers from around the world that represent STEM pioneers of the past, present and future!
Mary Anning
Paleontologist
Fossil Hunter. Discovered the first documented dinosaur skeleton. Discovered “Ichthyosaurus” or fish-lizard, a long-necked “plesiosaurs,” a “pterodactyl” and thousands of other Jurassic fossils. Her contributions provided key insight into Earth’s past and helped frame the theory of evolution, later presented by Charles Darwin.
Lauren Bush
Anthropology & Hunger Activist
Driven to end child hunger and break the cycle of poverty, launched “Project FEED.” Each product has a number stamped on it to represent the amount of school meals it will feed with purchase. Over 100 million meals provided to date.
Maya Varma
Future Engineer
17-year old invented a device to diagnose lung disease. Called “Spirometer,” it costs just $35. First Place ‘Medal of Distinction for Innovation’ at the Intel Science Talent Search.
Linda Avey
Biologist
At the vanguard of personal genomics. Founder of “Precise.ly” a patient data-tracking platform. Co-Founder of “23&Me” the world’s first personal genetics service. Founder of “Brainstorm Research Foundation” focused on accelerating research in Alzheimer’s disease.
Gabriela Leon
Biochemical Engineer
Founder of Gresmex, a nanoparticle-based disinfectant recognized by the World Economic Forum as “disruptive innovation” and by the UN Foundation as “one of the 100 firms that will save humanity.” Nbelyax, her “full-spectrum nano-biomolecule” renders inactive hospital-acquired infections from viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores.
Caroline Herschel
Astronomer
The first woman to discover a comet. Comet “35P/Herschel–Rigollet” is named in her honor. In her lifetime, Herschel discovered three nebulae, eight comets, and catalogued 2,500 nebulae/star clusters. The first woman awarded a ‘Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society’ and her groundbreaking contributions to astronomy earned her the ‘Gold Medal for Science’ presented by the King of Prussia.
Maanasa Mendu
Teen-Titan & Future Scientist
15-year old invented an electrically charged (or piezoelectric) “leaf” device that harvests clean energy from sun, wind and rain. The innovative device called HARVEST costs just $5. Named ‘America’s Top Young Scientist’ and winner of ‘Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.’
Mary Leakey
Paleoanthropologist
World renowned fossil hunter. Discovered the oldest human skull and the world’s first positive evidence of bipedalism. With husband Louis, found remains from Homo habilis at Olduvai Gorge (1.75 million years old) and footprints at Laetoli (3.6 million years old), both in Tanzania. Considered “the most significant archaeological and anthropological finds of this century.”
Marleen Vogelaar
Industrial Engineer
Helped launch a new paradigm in retail by empowering individuals at the intersection of design and technology, bringing 3D printing into mainstream. Founder of “Shapeways,” the leading 3D printing marketplace with 20.000+ entrepreneurs online.
Claire Wineland
Young Innovator & Activist
Courageous innovator shifting the status quo of how we view and live with terminal illness. Founder of “Claire’s Place Foundation,” providing support to children and families affected by cystic fibrosis (CF).
Gail Martin
Cell Biology
Coined the term ’embryonic stem cells’. Conducted groundbreaking studies on the isolation of pluripotent stem cells from normal embryos.
Carolyn Porco
Planetary Scientist
Luminary explorer of the outer solar system. Expert imaging of Cassini’s mission to Saturn, and Voyager’s missions to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Key findings from her work on Saturn’s moon, Enceladus hints “an ocean under its surface could harbor life.” Named one of “25 Most Influential People in Space” by TIME Magazine. Awarded the Carl Sagan Medal.
Ida Noddack
Chemist & Physicist
Co-discovered element 75, rhenium (one of the rarest elements in the Earth’s crust).
Zhou Qunfei
Tech Entrepreneur
Bold innovator transformed her life and that of her community. From factory worker, to launching a company at 22-years old, to becoming the world’s richest self-made woman ($8.6B net worth). Her company “Lens Technology” is the leading supplier of touchscreen glass covers for Apple and Samsung.
Niveen M. Khashab
Organic Chemistry
Working with programmable nanoparticles containing chemotherapy treatment, Khashab’s novel approach deploys targeted and personalized medicine with a potential to revolutionize cancer treatment. Pioneer work developed nanoparticles that naturally degrade when exposed to light. L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award.
Low Hong Yee
Biomedical Engineer & Polymer Scientist
Nanotechnology pathfinder. Her research is at the forefront of nano-imprinting and nano-fabrication of biomimetic surfaces. With a goal to reduce global warming, her world offers eco-friendly and non-chemical alternatives to plastic.
Patricia S. Goldman-Rakic
Neuroscientist
World-renowned neuroscientist. Discovered the cellular basis of working memory. Her pioneer studies of the brain paved the way for understanding schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
Marijana Milicevic
Physicist
Exploring the boundaries of photons and “edge states” to recreate graphene in the lab, using light.
Susan Solomon
Atmospheric Chemist
Discover the cause of depleted atmospheric ozone in the Antarctic, known as the ozone “hole” – altering the course of atmospheric research. Her research led to a global ban on the chemicals that destroy atmospheric ozone and threaten human health worldwide.
Michelle Kunimoto
Physics & Astronomy
23-year old discovered 4 new planets. Her current master’s thesis looks to determine the number of Earth-like planets in the entire Milky Way Galaxy. Named ‘Forbes 30 Under 30.’
Diana Trujillo
Aerospace Engineer
Trailblazer led humanity’s expedition to Mars. Her work on the ‘NASA Mars Curiosity Rover’ mission provided the first close range evidence that the Red Planet was once capable of supporting life.
Maria Goeppert Mayer
Theoretical Physicist
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering “nuclear shell” structure.
Thaisa Storchi Bergmann
Astrophysicist
Pioneer in supermassive black holes. First to discover the orbital movement of matter around a super-massive black hole, demonstrating how black holes influence the evolution of the galaxies.
Frieda S. Robscheit-Robbins
Pathologist
Groundbreaker. Discovered the underlying reason, and ultimately the cure for the deadly disease ‘pernicious anemia’ (vitamin B12 deficiency).
Xania Wong
Social Entrepreneur
Founder of JOBDOH, Hong Kong’s leading online marketplace for on-demand hiring. In just 3-years the company has grown to include over 5000 employers and 90,000+ registered workers. Inspired by a social mission to reduce poverty and increase income for the underserved, this smart-platform looks to revolutionize the temporary staffing industry.
Daisy Robinton
Molecular & Cell Biology
Daisy Robinton. Molecular & Cell Biology.
Science disruptor “engineering the end of aging.” Her current research explores the frontier of gene editing, stem cells and the potential to treat liver cancer.
Yunye Shin
Social Entrepreneur
Launched “Zero Space Inc.” with a mission to design and create products and collaborative spaces that result in ‘zero waste’ of manufacturing materials. Her bold initiative hopes to reverse and reduce the negative environmental impact 8,000 tons of discarded fabric from sewing factories in Changsin-dong, is creating in South Korea every year.
Denise Abulafia
Biologist
Disrupting the “EdTech” space by launching “Educatina”, an online educational platform for K12 learners with free 24/7 on-demand tutorials. The Argentina company looks to democratize access to world-class education, and today has over 5 million students.
Victoria Alonsopérez
Victoria Alonsopérez
Invented “Chipsafer” a digital system to track animals. The global platform uses sensors to geolocate livestock and can be applied to monitor endangered species and analyze cattle behavior to prevent epidemics.
Liset & Ximena Contreras
Industrial Engineer
Sisters from Bolivia turned discarded shells from Brazil nuts into fuel pellets, applicable for domestic and industrial use. The ‘pellets’ are non-flammable, can be used as fertilizer, and leave zero carbon footprint.
Ingrid Daubechies
Mathematician
Discovered “compactly supported continuous wavelets,” today called “Daubechies wavelets” in her honor. Considered one of “the world’s most cited mathematician” and her methodology has been used to determine the age of world famous paintings by Vincent van Gogh and Rembrandt.
Natalie Hampton
Next-Gen Social Impactor
At 17-years old, developed “Sit With Us” an innovative app to combat bullying at school. With over 100,000 users, the device helps teens find someone to sit with at their high school cafeteria.
Rachel Haurwitz
Molecular & Cell Biology
Founder of biotechnology company “Caribou Biosciences” and the development of an innovative tool called “SITE-Seq,” with potential applications ranging from understanding antimicrobial resistance, to spotting when CRISPR (gene editing software) makes mistakes.
Julie Williams
Neuropsychological Genetics
Uncovered new genetic links to Alzheimers. Considered one of the world’s foremost experts in Alzheimer’s research, having identified 30 genes that increase/or decrease the risk for Alzheimer’s disease. TIME cited her work as “one of the top ten medical breakthroughs of 2009.”
Katharina Sophia Volz
Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine
Discovered the cell type that forms the coronary arteries -paving the way for new heart disease treatments. Founder of OccamzRazor, an AI-driven neuroscience company using deep learning to find a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.
BJ Casey & Monica Rosenberg
Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience
Exploring the boundaries of human attention, self control and focus. Developing models to predict individual differences in attention and cognition at the “Fundamentals of the Adolescent Brain (FAB) Lab.”
Melissa Gymrek
Bioinformatics
At the forefront of understanding genetic variation in humans, specifically “short tandem repeats.” Invented and patented an algorithm that analyze these “repeats” to help scientists understand factors that ultimately lead to human disease.
Makayla Gates
Future Scientist
13-year old invented an acoustic levitation device that can suspend sand particles in mid-air and, without the use of water, clean solar panels and other space equipment.
Diane Wu & Poornima Parameswaran
Genetics & Molecular Biology & Computer Science
AGTech change-agents. Their innovative company ‘Trace Genomics’ detects the DNA of organisms living in the soil, building a “sequencing library” and offering farmers real-time information of the microbes present to increase yield and ultimately prevent crop disease.
Patty Jo Watson
Anthropology
World expert on the origins of agriculture. Pioneer in cave archaeology (particularly the Mammoth Cave, the longest known cave system in the world). Considered one of “The 50 Most Important Women in Science” and elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
Margaret A. Liu
Chemist
Called “the Mother of DNA Vaccines.” Her patents include synthetic hepatitis C genes and polynucleotide tuberculosis vaccines. Named one of “The 50 Most Important Women Scientists.”
Aarushee Nair
Young Innovator
15-year old invented a biodegradable container that holds clean water and oral rehydration salts (ORS) to save millions of children suffering from diarrhea in her native India. Nair’s “Blu Pak” can hold 350ml of safe drinking water and has a separate slot to hold ORS, by shaking the pack, the salts are mixed with water providing a safe and portable solution.
Susan Lindquist
Molecular Biologist
Bold “out-of-the-box scientific thinker” demonstrated the profound ramifications and genetic link of “protein folding” in infectious disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Awarded the National Medal of Science.
Joanne Liu
Physician
At the frontline of the world’s first Ebola outbreak, igniting the global community to urgently and aggressively respond to the crises and control the spread. President of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Named “Top 100 Most Influential People,” one of “The World’s Greatest Leaders,” and awarded The National Order of Quebec.
Caroline Nolan
Future Scientist
15-year old’s research on toxic algae blooms in Lake Okeechobee caused by agricultural effluent streams (threatening wildlife and 700 species of fish) led to an innovative out-of-the-box solution to use mushrooms to filter the wastewater. Winner “Young Eco-Hero Award.”
Madison Miles & Katherine Siciliano
Future Scientists
High School students developed an organic, eco-friendly plant food called “Nutrasafe” using orange and banana peels. Their innovative “vegetarian gel capsules” addresses the environmental concern of traditional fertilizers contributing to water pollution, and provides a safe alternative to increase crop yield. Recipients of the Environmental Protection Agency’s President’s Environmental Youth Awards.
Sanjana Shah
Young Innovator
Described as a bluetooth pioneer, 15-year old innovator developed the “Smart Flood Sensor” and “Smart Wildfire Sensor,” original monitoring devices to predict and prevent floods and wildfires. Recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency President’s Environmental Youth Award.
Annika Viswesh
Future Biostatistician
7th grade student developed a novel method to treat and manage amblyopia, a condition that affects 12 million children worldwide. By connecting sensors to an iPhone app and eye patch, Viswesh’s device called “Oculus Patch Assistant” tracks head movement, patch use, sharpness of vision and produces an algorithm that suggest a personalized regimen.
Zoe Gotthold
NextGen Innovator
8th grade student invented a test to gauge how long emulsions (oil trapped in pockets under the water’s surface) stay stable. The test could help cleanup crews decide on best practices during oil spill and ultimately save marine wildlife. Top Prize ‘National STEM Competition Broadcom Masters.’
Juliane Glaser
Geneticist
Demonstrated how an epigenetic marker programs our adult size, and does so as early as 4-days into embryonic development. Her research of the activation of gene “Zdbf2” in the brain, could provide insight into new treatments for childhood growth disorders.
Lucile Anthore-Dalion
Chemistry
At the forefront of “green science.” Anthore-Dalion applies ‘radical chemistry’ to develop innovative molecular assemblies that are efficient and non-toxic to reduce the environmental impact of synthetic chemistry.
Irène Joliot-Curie
Chemistry & Physics
Co-Discovered artificial radioactivity. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Autumn Greco
Future Bioengineer
At 17-years old her research explores the frontier of diagnostics and treatment of leukemia, liver cancer, and retinal diseases. Named HuffPost “20 Under 20: STEAM Pioneer.”
Daria Bonazzi
Biophysics
Leading research to stop “meningococcal meningitis,” a bacterial infection that can cause severe brain damage, even death in 50% of cases if untreated. Combining biology and biophysics, Bonazzi is developing methods to control the interactions between a pathogen and its host cell to development new treatments.
Michelle Marquez
Young Scientist
At 15-years old, discovered the mathematical structure of sounds that trigger selective emotions. Demonstrated how certain types of music affect the brain and shed light on the power of music therapy to treat neurological and anxiety disorders such as PTSD and Attention Deficit Disorder.
Davina Durgana
Statistician
Disruptor ending modern slavering by developing statistical models to track human trafficking across the globe. Named Forbes 30 Under 30.
Grace Forrest
Abolitionist & Political Scientist
Co-founder of “Walk Free,” a global movement to end modern-day slavery. Currently 40 million people live in slavery, 71% are women/girls. Forrest’s movement has 7 million supporters and recently inspired the world’s religious leaders (including the Pope, a Zen Buddhist master, Sunni and Shiite clerics, the Archbishop of Canterbury and a South American rabbi) to pledge to eradicate slavery by 2020.
Keren Elazari
Cybersecurity
At the forefront of cyber security research, emerging technologies and the social implication of “hackers.”
Emi Tamaki
Engineer & VR/AR Influencer
Creator of “UnlimitedHand,” the world’s first haptic controller in VR games, giving the human hand access to touch and feel virtual objects. Creator of “PossessedHand” named one of TIME Magazine’s “50 Best Inventions,” a wearable device to control human finger movements and teach users how to play a musical instrument.
Victoria & Lauren Coaxum
Future-Neuroscientist & Doctor
Sisters launched “Think Before You Type” to stop cyber-bullying by daring users to practice random acts of kindness.
Jess Ladd
Epidemiology
Founder of ‘Callisto,’ the first trauma-informed sexual assault reporting platform to detect serial perpetrators.
Lena Okajima
Astrophysics
“Space for the masses.” Founder of ‘Astro Live Experiences’, creating the world’s first artificial meteor shower above Hiroshima in 2019.
Rachel Haurwitz
Molecular & Cell Biology
Founder of biotechnology company Caribou Biosciences and the development of an innovative tool called “SITE-Seq,” with potential applications ranging from understanding antimicrobial resistance, to spotting when CRISPR (gene editing software) makes mistakes.
Sara Saeed Khurram & Iffat Zafar
Medicine
Ending the “Doctor-Bride” phenomena. Launched “Sehat Kahani” to democratize healthcare in Pakistan through a national network of stay-at-home female doctors. This online tele-health platform with 800+ doctors, has already benefited 500,000 marginalized women and children.
Neide Sellin
Computer Scientist
Built a robotic guide dog for the blind and visually impaired. Globally there are 253 million blind/visually impaired individuals. Sellin launched ‘Vixsystem’ leveraging sensors, artificial intelligence, and GPS to provide individuals with disabilities greater autonomy, safety and freedom of mobility.
Kathy Gong
Economics
Launched ‘Law.ai,’ a machine-learning company that created a robotic divorce lawyer called “Lily” and a robotic immigration lawyer called “Mike.” At 10-years old Gong became China’s youngest national chess master.
Kristin Kagetsu
Mechanical Engineer
Created the first 100% biodegradable sanitary pad using banana fibers. This socially impactful product called “Saathipads” has zero toxic chemicals and degrades within six months of disposal (1,200 times faster than conventional pads). In India 200 million women/girls (84% of 12-47 year old females) can’t afford sanitary pads, resulting in dropping-out of school or work completely.
Hilda Cerdeira & Paula Gomez
Physicist & Electrical Engineer
Mother-Daughter discovered a way to predict epileptic seizures with 25-minutes advanced notice. Their innovative and non-invasive device called ‘Epistemic’ alerts patients and caregivers with 93% accuracy.
Trisha Prabhu
Future Software Engineer
14-year old developed “ReThink,” to detect and stop cyberbullying. Her innovative platform alerts users when they type something hurtful or insensitive, empowering adolescents with a second chance to rethink and remove offensive posts (93% success rate).
Julie Law
Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Exploring the forefront of climate change and environmental factors that alter plant DNA. Leading Salk Institute’s research project called “Harnessing Plants Initiative” to develop “ideal plants” able to trap carbon dioxide in roots to provide sustainable sources of food, fuel and fibers.
Kawsar Roshan, Fatemah Qaderyan, Lida Azizi, Rodaba Noori, Kawsar Roshan, Yasimin Yasinzadah
Next-Gen Inventors
“The Afghanistan Girls Robotics Team” comprised of six teenagers (14-16 yr old) created an award winning solar-powered robot for use on small-scale farms.
Cécile Réal
Biomedical Engineer
Founder of ‘Endodiag’, a unique non-invasive diagnostic and biopsy tool to identify and fight endometriosis – a chronic and painful disease that can cause infertility. There is currently no known cure, affects millions of women but receives little attention or research funds.
Enass Abo Hamed
Nanotechnology & Chemistry
Invented a safe and low cost energy storage system called “H2GO Power.” The design uses an innovative ‘porous catalytic material’ capable of releasing hydrogen in a controlled manner, resulting in clean mobile energy.
Priya Subramanian
Mathematician
Unlocking the potential of ‘quasicrystals’ (atoms or molecules arranged in patterns that never repeat). Currently investigating the formation, growth and stability of quasipatterns with the goal to discover new mathematical models and novel applications in manufacturing.
Ciara Donlon
Marketing
Launched ‘THEYA Healthcare products’ to help women heal physically and psychologically during and after cancer treatment. Using bamboo as fabric material, the products are environmentally friendly, use no chemical pesticides or synthetic fertilizers to manufacture and are 92%-97% resistant to bacteria – important protection against surgical site infections.
Dorothy Hansine Andersen
Physician
Discovered ‘cystic fibrosis’ (a genetic disorder that can affect the lungs, pancreas, liver, kidneys, and intestine). Her pioneer work resulted in the first test to diagnose the disease.
Anamita Guha
Cognitive Science
Trailblazer, changing the future of chatbots. Launched “Chatbots for Good” with a goal to introduce a new generation of makers to the importance of empathy, language and conversational interfaces.
Gitanjali Rao
Young Innovator
11-year old designed an innovative, portable and cost-effective device called “Tethys” that checks lead contamination levels in drinking water. Winner ‘Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist.’
Frances Oldham Kelsey
Pharmacologist
FDA reviewer who’s courage saved a generation of children. Refused to authorize ‘thalidomide’ for US market. The drug later proved to cause serious birth defects that affected a generation of children in the UK and Germany where the drug had been approved.
Carmen Hijosa
Textile Entrepreneur
Founder of Piñatex, created a “new material for a new world” by inventing a sustainable, all natural textile made from pineapple leaves. This inspiring cruelty-free material is sourced from agricultural waste (the by-product of pineapple harvest), resulting in additional income for farmers.
Eunice Foote
Atmospheric Researcher
Groundbreaking researcher. Now recognized as the first scientist to outline the global greenhouse effect.
Ciara Clancy
Physiotherapist
Driven to empower and restore mobility to individuals suffering from Parkinson by launching “Beats Medical”, an innovative technology that delivers daily ‘sound wave’ treatment using a mobile application. Named “Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur.”
Penny Heaton
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physician
Developed the rotavirus vaccine, currently applied in 100 countries saving the lives of infants worldwide Also led groundbreaking research in maternal immunization.
Marina Ross
Psychologist & Tech Entrepreneur
Invented a nano-coating technology (Nanobarrier HYDROP) that is eco-friendly, 100% breathable, and non-flammable with significant implications to change the textile industry’s legacy of pollution, at the same time protecting clothes and shoes.
Sue Desmond-Hellmann
Oncologist
Named one of “The World’s 7 Most Powerful Innovators.” Led the team that developed Herceptin, a key treatment for breast cancer. Considered the first gene-targeted cancer drug.
Maria Mitchell
Astronomer
Change-maker, shaped the early field of astronomy with her discovery of a new comet using a telescope – the comet was later named “Miss Mitchell’s Comet” in her honor. Recognized as the first professional female astronomer in the United States.
Kristina Tsvetanova
Industrial Engineer
Created BLITAB Technology, the world’s first tactile tablet for the blind. With over 285 million blind/visually impaired people worldwide, but only 1% of all published books available in Braille, Tsvetanova’s innovative solution is accelerating digital and social inclusion.
Lise Pape
Design Engineer
Transformed her father’s balance and mobility struggle by developing “Walk With Path”, an innovative shoe insole to reduce the risk of falls. A discrete laser attaches to the shoe, providing feedback to the soles of the feet via vibrations. Benefits of this tech include people with diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s and the elderly.
Nneka Mobisson
Pediatrician
Launched ‘mDoc Healthcare’ a mobile platform currently helping over 1 million Nigerians by providing 24/7 access to a virtual and multidisciplinary healthcare team (including doctors, nurses, allied providers) for people living with chronic diseases. mDoc’s innovative technology leverages SMS, voice and video to manage daily care and ultimately prevent premature death.
Luz Rello
Computer Scientist & Linguistics
Combines artificial intelligence, computer games, and linguistics to solve a “hidden disorder.” Rello developed an online screening platform to detect and treat dyslexia. ‘Change Dyslexia’ offers a free diagnostic test, with 90% accuracy in just 15 minutes of game play.
Audrey Cheng
Journalism
20-year old founded a coding school in Kenya called ‘Moringa School’ that today places 95% of it’s graduates in top tech companies throughout Africa. Compared to the national average of only 1% computer scientist finding jobs, her innovative curriculum is shifting the region’s balance.
Julia Römer
Industrial Engineer
Founded Coolar, a solar-powered, off-grid and environmentally friendly refrigerator for vaccine storage. In remote regions, 75% of vaccines are at risk of damage – Römer’s water-based technology creates a sustainable “cool to heat” solution.
Kathy Ku
Engineer
25-year old invented a low cost ($20), ceramic water filter, to stop Uganda’s water-borne illnesses that today are the number one cause of death for children under the age of five. Her company SPOUTS’ Purifaaya is the only water filter manufactured in Uganda, made from local materials and lasts up to 2 years. Providing a source of safe water for families, it has currently reached 90,000 homes.
Trupti Jain
Environmental Engineer
Founder of ‘Naireeta Services’ and maker of Bhungroo (meaning straw or hollow pipe in Hindi) an innovative solution that filters and stores rainwater underground for up to 30 years. This efficient rain water conservation technology has the potential to boost global agri-income by $208 billion annually.
Evelyn Namara
Computer Scientist
Replacing cash with a digital voucher to enforce transparency and distribution of monetary aid. Her company ‘Vouch Digital’ optimizes government and organizational support in Uganda’s agriculture sector by providing open, online and real-time tracking of funds.
Salma Abdulai
Agricultural Economics
Launched ‘Unique Quality Product Enterprise’ to leverage Fonio, a sustainable indigenous crop from Ghana that is also drought and flood-resistant. By transforming an almost extinct crop with “extraordinary benefits”, Abdulai is disrupting food insecurity, reducing malnutrition among children and pregnant women and offering new opportunities for landless female farmers.
Melissa Bime
Nurse & Entrepreneur
Saving lives by creating an online blood bank available to those in extreme need. At 21-years old, her company ‘Infiuss’ is changing the Cameroon health landscape by collecting and dispatching donated blood to hospitals with a quick text message.
Noha Khater
Retinal Surgeon & Ophthalmologist
Her company ‘Almouneer’ is Egypt’s first networked, and completely digital, diabetic eye care centre. With 15 million people in Egypt, and another 50 million throughout the Middle East and Africa, suffering from diabetes-related eye problems (the most severe resulting in blindness) her tech platform looks to transform the healthcare landscape. Khater is also the only female eye surgeon specialized in retinal surgery in Egypt today.
Erin Keaney
Plastics Engineer
Changing the world of fabrication. Her inspired startup Nonspec provides innovative “hyper-adjustable”, durable and low cost prosthetic limb kits for amputees. Approximately 3 million amputations occur every year. Keaney’s unique technology ensures the prosthetics easily adapt to a range of patient sizes and costs $150 (compared to the market range of $20,000).
Sanna Gaspard
Biomedical Engineer
Courageous change-agent. Invented a non-invasive optical reader (Rubitection) for early bedsore detection. Every year in the US alone, 2.5 million patients suffer from pressure ulcers/bedsores and 60,000 people die as a direct result. Gaspard’s hand-held, battery operated device measures the skin to determine if a bedsore is forming – of critical importance to bed-ridden, wheelchair-bound and elderly patients.
Diana Yousef
Biochemist
Social impactor. Invented a portable, waterless, low cost toilet that requires no electricity or plumbing with the goal to create safer, smarter, more dignified sanitation. (Globally, 2.6 billion people lack safe toilet access. 80% of diseases around the world are attributable to poor sanitation. 20%-40% of girls drop out of school due to inaccessible/inappropriate toilets).
Giuliana Tesoro
Organic Chemist
Invented flame-resistant fibers. Pioneer in the field of fiber and textile chemistry.
YiDing Yu
Physician
Transforming the future of emergency care. Founder of Twiage, a cloud-based digital platform that sends real-time data from ambulance to hospital. Patients are registered from the ambulance or accident sene using GPS-tracking and a smart phone app. This innovative tech offers hospitals a complete picture of incoming patients and ultimately the benefit of accelerating life-saving care.
Yvonne Brill
Rocket Scientist
Pioneer in spacecraft propulsion. Invented a new rocket engine called a “hydrazine resistojet” that helps keep communication satellites in orbit.
Anna Stork & Andrea Sreshta
Architects
Launched ‘LuminAid,’ a rechargeable non-toxic solar-powered LED lantern, that floats and can ‘collapse to become thinner than a deck of cards.’ Provides 30 hours of continuous light. Over 50,000 LuminAid lanterns have been deployed across 70 countries including, to refugees and first responders affected by Hurricane Sandy, Typhoon Haiyan, and the Nepalese earthquakes.
Danielle Zurovcik
Mechanical Engineer
Wound-Pump disruptor. Invented an inspired $3 negative pressure wound therapy device to heal chronic open wounds worldwide.
Jessica Scorpio
Political Science
Cofounder of Getaround, a peer-to-peer car-sharing platform with a potential environmental impact to offset 100 million pounds of carbon emissions. At the frontier of a new mind-culture-policy shift, to value ‘access’ to cars over ownership. Named “A female technology founders to watch.”
Mildred Cohn
Biochemist
Visionary researcher. Her contributions set in motion the development of medical technologies like M.R.I.’s, providing key images of internal tissue. Pioneered the use of stable isotopes and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to examine the structure of proteins and the behavior of enzymes in the body. Awarded the National Medal of Science.
Sophia Sunwoo
Public Policy
Fixing ‘broken water projects’. Launched Water Collective, bringing long-lasting, clean water to over 76,000 people living in Africa and India. (In Sub-Saharan Africa alone failed hand pumps represent $1.5 billion in wasted investments. Almost 800 million people live without safe drinking water. The water crisis is amplified to almost 4 billion people counting the number of failed water projects that exist in the developing world.)
Eleni Antoniadou
Bioengineering
Founder of ‘Transplants Without Donors’ – developing artificial organs as an alternative therapy for transplants. Her significant contribution enabled the world’s first successful artificial organ transplant (an artificial trachea for a late-stage cancer patient). Named Forbes 30 Under 30.
Mary Ellen Avery
Pediatrician
Groundbreaking discovery of the cause for underdeveloped lungs in premature babies. Her critical identification of ‘surfactant’ helped introduce replacement therapy. Avery is credited with saving over 800,000 newborn lives. Awarded the National Medal of Science.
Nicole Hu
Computer Scientist
Launched One Concern, a startup that leverages data science and machine learning to assess damage after disasters to make it easier for authorities to respond. Named ‘Forbes 30 Under 30.’
Jane McGonigal
Game Designer
World-renowned game designer. Pioneer in location-based and alternate reality/massive multiplayer online gaming. Creator of SuperBetter, impacting over 250,000 players tackling real-life health challenges including, depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and traumatic brain injury.
Ariel Garten
Psychotherapist & Artist
At the intersection of art and neuroscience. Co-founder of InteraXon, a brain sensing headband/fitness tool that reads patterns of stress, relaxation and focus to help calm your mind.
Nanxi Liu
Polymer Scientist
Patented a polymer to enable vaccines survival without refrigeration. (Almost 2 million people die each year from vaccine-preventable illnesses). Also launched a startup that creates intelligent digital displays. Named Forbes “30 Under 30.”
Colleen Costello
Biomedical Engineer
Reinventing the approach to hospital disinfection. Cofounder of novel tech called “Vital Vio” a new kind of LED white light with the power to continuously kill germs by attacking a molecule-specific to bacteria, mold, and fungi – all with the flip of a light switch and without damaging the health of human patients.
Debbie Sterling
Mechanical Engineer
Culture shifter transforming the ‘pink aisle.’ Founder of GoldieBlox, launched as a kickstarter campaign today it’s an award-winning children’s toy company disrupting gender stereotypes with the world’s first girl engineer character. Named Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship, 1 of 25 “People Shaping Retail’s Future,” and recognized by the National Women’s History Museum with a “Living Legacy” Award.
Barbara McClintock
Cytogeneticist
Discovered transposons or “jumping genes” – the first to demonstrate some genes move within chromosomes. Her pioneer studies on maize also led to the discovery that genes switch the physical traits of an organism on or off. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Julia Hu
Engineer & Entrepreneur
Founder of Lark, named “Top 10 Most Innovative Apps in the World.” Digitizing your health patterns using AI and wearable tech to track sleep, diet, and exercise. Hu’s company has the potential to be the world’s largest sleep database. Her ultimate goal is to help individuals live and ‘sleep’ healthy and happy.
Evelyn Witkin
Geneticist
Genetics Groundbreaker. Her research on mutation of bacteria provided critical understanding of the mechanisms of DNA repair, an essential process of how all living organisms survive.
Divya Chander
Anesthesiologist & Neuroscientist
Leading the future of Neuroscience. Performed remote simulations of trauma rescues, anesthesia and surgery in Mars analogue-settings. Applied EEG technology to understand what human brains look like when they lose and regain consciousness.
Nina Federoff
Molecular Biologist
Pioneered DNA sequencing. Demonstrated the first complete gene ever to be sequenced. Also awarded the National Medal of Science for groundbreaking research in the fields of plant genetics and genetically modified crops.
Julielynn Wong
Physician-Scientist
Founded 3D4MD (creating 3D printed medical supplies) and Medical Makers (a global community of innovators, patients and healthcare providers) to build solutions that matter and save lives. Launched “Flu Near You,” the world’s largest crowd-sourced flu tracking and vaccine locator platform.
Berta Scharrer
Neuroendocrinology
Established a new field called ‘neuroendocrinology,’ with husband Ernst. Discovered ‘nerve-gland cells’ in invertebrate species. Her seven-decades of research on the South American cockroach led to critical understanding and breakthroughs in human physiology. Awarded the National Medal of Science.
Karen J. Meech
Astronomer
Her groundbreaking work on comets helped develop our understanding of how the tails develop far from our Sun. Her pioneer research addresses fundamental questions about how earth got its water and how habitable planets are formed. Investigating the origin, history, and evolution of water in the universe.
Lalita Prasida Sripada Srisai
Young Scientist
Using corn cobs, 13-year old invented a unique water filtration system that removes 70-80% of contaminates, including oxides of salt, detergents, oils, color dyes, as well as trap metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium. Corn is India’s third biggest crop. Lalita’s invention repurposes the abandoned corn waste as a cost-effective solution for cleaning ground water and industrial tanks on site.
Lise Meitner
Physicist
Pioneer in radioactivity research. Explained and coined the term ‘nuclear fission’ for the process when uranium splits, releasing a burst of kinetic energy. The synthetic radioactive element “meitnerium” is named in her honor, the only element to take the name of a woman who was not a mythological figure.
Bisman Deu
Trailblazing Young Innovator
18-year old transformed unwanted rice waste into a sustainable building material called “Green Wood” to make low-cost, eco-friendly houses. Winner HP’s Social innovation Relay Competition.
Tippi MacKenzie
Biochemist & Pediatric Surgeon
Developing a clinical trial to perform in utero stem cell transplantation to cure genetic diseases before birth, including sickle cell anemia and muscular dystrophy. Change-agent focused on improving maternal, fetal, and neonatal health.
Catherine Mohr
Mechanical Engineer
Disruptor. Developing the future of remote ‘surrogate’ hands for medical surgery. Invented a robot called ‘da Vinci’, applied as the first totally robotic roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Inventor of the “LapCap” device for safely establishing pneumoperitoneum.
Olivia Hallisey
Young Scientist
17-year old invented a new Ebola test. The “Ebola Assay Card” (EAC) is fast (30-minute), low-cost ($25), visual (results shown as color change) and portable. It’s made from paper, silk and small amounts of reagents and detects Ebola viral antigens even when patients lack symptoms. (90% of Ebola victims die without early diagnosis and medical intervention. Current detection methods are expensive and require uninterrupted refrigeration). Hallisey’s unique invention can be shipped and stored for a week without refrigeration. Her diagnostic test could also be used for Zika, Lyme disease, and Celiac’s disease.
Elizabeth Stern
Physician-Scientist
Her legacy: changed the way doctors diagnose cervical cancer and shaped the field of cytopathology. Groundbreaking research led to our understanding of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. Provided critical proof that dysplasia is an early marker of cervical cancer. First to find that high-dose estrogen birth control pills increase the rate of cervical cancer by six-fold.
Elif Bilgin
Inventor & future-Biomedical Engineer
16 year old invents bio-plastic using banana peels, replacing traditional petroleum-based plastic. Winner Google Science Fair.
Claude Klee
Biochemist
Discovered ‘calcineurin’ (calcium-regulated protein phosphatase) – today a primary target of immunosuppressive therapies to prevent transplant rejection.
Letícia Pereira de Souza
Young Scientist
Safe drinking water. 18-year old used the Moringa seed (found in her native Brazil) to filter contaminated water. The local “Magic Seed” provides a low cost, accessible and biodegradable alternative for recovery of water polluted by chemicals. Google Science Fair Winner.
Jewel Plummer Cobb
Biologist
Pioneer in cell biology and cancer treatment. Studied the cure for melanoma. Advanced our understanding of the skin cells that produce melanin and how those cells become cancerous. Discovered that methotrexate (a chemotherapy drug) effectively treats skin and lung cancer.
Penny Chisholm
Ecologist & Marine Biologist
Discovered the existence of our ocean’s smallest creatures. Completely unknown to science before her discovery, this microscopic bacterium called Prochlorococcus, is responsible for producing over half the oxygen in our planet’s atmosphere. It influences climate and ocean ecosystems. With 80,000 genes (4 times that of humans) it is one of the oldest and most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth – a direct descendent of the first photosynthetic cells that pumped oxygen into Earth’s atmosphere over 4 billion years ago.
Giada Gerbon
Biomedical Engineer
Developing a bio-inspired ‘soft robot’ manipulator for minimally invasive surgery. This transformative work presents a radical change in surgical instrument design (shifting away from rigid tools). The inspiration came using the octopus as a model and could present the future of medical devices and robotic surgery.
Mamie Phipps Clark
Psychologist
Pioneer in Child Developmental Psychology. Pivotal research determined that children became aware of their racial identity as early as 3-years old. Provided irrefutable evidence that racial discrimination caused negative self-image and low self-esteem in black children. Her findings greatly influenced ‘Brown vs Board of Education’ a Supreme Court ruling that declared segregated public schools were unconstitutional.
Simona Francese
Chemist
Creating the future of ‘fingermarks’. Leading world expert leveraging mass spectrometry in forensic analysis. Ground-breaking technology provides in-depth analysis of fingerprints at crime scenes (including a person’s diet, drugs use and gender).
Marie Maynard Daly
Biochemist
Discovered the link between high cholesterol and clogged arteries – leading to a better understanding of how heart attacks are caused. Pioneer research on the effects of hypertension (high blood pressure). Conducted critical research on the effects of sugar on arteries, and cigarette smoke in lungs. First African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1947.
Annie Easley
Rocket Scientist
Made modern spaceflight possible. Developed the most powerful rocket. Created technologies that led to hybrid vehicles. Her seminal research analyzing solar and wind technologies, determining the life use of batteries and identifying energy-conversion systems established the groundwork for hybrid vehicles today. Her software led to the Centaur rocket, the most powerful upper stage in the US space program and launched weather and communications satellites, and exploration spacecraft – Pioneer, Viking, Voyager and Cassini.
Julia Bray
Young Inventor
14-year old transforms Styrofoam trash into water filters. (The U.S. throws away 1.9 billion pounds of Styrofoam (the brand name of expanded polystyrene/EPS) each year, contributing 25% of U.S. landfill space, and taking hundreds of years to degrade.) The teen-trio (with fellow 8th graders Ashton Cofer and Luke Clay) developed a way to recycle EPS into activated carbon removing significant amounts of iron, copper and chlorine from water. Their innovative ‘Styro-Filter’ could lower energy and equipment costs, reduce landfill waste and provide affordable access to clean water. Scientific American Innovator Award.
Ezgi Tezer and İlayda Sırbaş
Young Scientist
Using crushed aluminium cans, 15-year old innovators from Turkey developed an eco-friendly external wall capable of absorbing powerful impact loads – up to 61%. Their innovation increases the resistance of reinforced concrete buildings protecting homes from bombs and the impact of explosions. Google Science Fair Winners.
Audrey Courboulin
Medicine & Pulmonologist
Trailblazer. Original research focuses on screening for pulmonary hypertension by using an artificial electronic nose. (Pulmonary hypertension, predominantly found in women, leads to heart failure and 40% of patients die within 5 years of diagnosis).
Jane Cooke Wright
Oncologist
Cancer pioneer and chemotherapy change-agent. Developed the technique of using human tissue culture rather than laboratory mice to test the effects of potential drugs on cancer cells. The first to identify methotrexate, one of the foundational chemotherapy drugs, as an effective tool against cancerous tumors – pioneering its application to treat breast and skin cancer. Invented a method of delivering chemotherapy agents directly to an internal cancer site.
Anushka Naiknaware
Next-Gen Innovator
13-year old invented a bandage that informs doctors when it needs to be changed, speeding the healing process. Math-enthusiast embedded nanoparticles of graphene ‘ink-printed into fractal patterns’ on a bandage to accurately detect when moisture levels drop. Critical for large wounds that require more precise care to avoid infection.
Barbara Askins
Chemist
“Made visible the invisible in photos.” Invented a new method to enhance underexposed photographic negatives – significantly improving the quality of astronomical and geological images. A significant breakthrough to peer into deep space and highlight our solar system. National Inventor of the Year – the first woman to receive this honor.
Frances Ashcroft
Chemist
Finding ‘the spark of life’ – discovered the protein that causes neonatal diabetes.
Brooke Tata
Neuroendocrinologist
On a quest to cure PCOS (‘Poly cystic ovary syndrome’ a leading cause of female infertility affectig 1 in 10 women of child-bearing age). Tata’s research bridges hormone therapy with environmental factors to understand the triggers that cause the syndrome.
Molly Shoichet
Biomedical Engineer
Cutting-edge tissue engineering. Developed new biomaterial to repair damaged nerve tissue. Pioneer work restores ‘lost connections’ in the brain transforming stroke, spinal cord injury and blindness.
Mary Anderson
Inventor & Real Estate Developer
Invented the windshield wipers. National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Hedy Lamarr
Actress & Inventor
Invented frequency-hopping technology. A pioneer in the field of wireless communications. During World War II created an unbreakable code that prevented classified messages from being intercepted.
Regina Agyare Honu
Computer Scientist
“Ghanaian Tech Guru.” Launched the first coding school (Soronko Academy) for children in West Africa. Founded “Tech Needs Girls” and trained over 3,500 young women in eight different regions. Named a “Female Entrepreneur to Watch in Emerging Economies.”
Lynn Margulis
Biologist
Her most important work, developed the “SET theory” (symbiotic mergers of bacteria) explaining the origin of cells. Revolutionized the modern understanding of how life began on Earth. Called “perhaps the most important and dramatic event in the history of life.” Also co-developed the Gaia hypothesis.
Sandra Faber
Astronomer
Groundbreaker discovered the structure, dynamics and evolution of galaxies. Linked the brightness of galaxies to the speed of stars and co-discovered the Faber–Jackson relation (a tool for determining distances to external galaxies). National Medal of Science.
Carina Ayden
Linguistics
Resilient transformer making healthy food available to all. Launched an eco-friendly, probiotic-rich company (EFFI Foods) that leverages anti-inflammatory diets and nutraceuticals. Her personal story was the key to creating a nutrition bar line with non-dairy probiotic and prebiotic (CAREBAR) and the first of its kind legume-based granola (Chickpea Granola).
Temple Grandin
Animal Scientist
Considered the world’s leading expert on the welfare of cattle and pigs. Designed humane handling systems for half the cattle-processing facilities in the US; decreased the amount of fear and pain animals experience in their final hours. Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.” Author and advocate for individuals with autism. 2017 National Women’s Hall of Fame.
Marita Cheng
Computer Scientist
Develops robots to help people with disabilities. In 2016 her startup Aubot released the world’s first commercially-available robot you can move with your brain. Positive impact includes allowing sick children to attend school from their hospital bed. Named ‘Young Australian of the Year.’
Sarah Bergbreiter
Electrical Engineer
Creates tiny robots the size of a grain of rice, able to overcome obstacles 80 times their height. Future application for these micro-robots include disaster relief, construction and medical devices.
Priv Bradoo
Neuroscientist
CleanTech Champ! Her company BlueOak mines e-waste to be reused in new technology. Currently building a refining factory to extract gold, silver and copper from e-waste. Co-Chair, World Economic Forum Council on Advanced Materials.
Sau Lan Wu
Particle Physicist
Contributed to the discovery of three fundamental particles: Higgs boson (known as “the God particle”) , the charm quark and the gluon. These indivisible particles are the ‘stuff’ (the matter/energy/elements) that make up the Universe.
Emily Ashkin
Biochemistry-major
At 17-years old discovered a chemotherapy drug capable of unmasking cancer cells that also enhances immunotherapy in the treatment of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.
Rachel Carson
Marine Biologist & Author
Her bestselling book “Silent Spring” unleashed a national debate resulting in the reversal of pesticide policy and a nationwide ban on DDT. Her work also inspired a grassroots environmental movement that led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Jennifer McCleary
Electrical Engineer-major
Identified materials (metal oxides) that could help harness solar power to produce hydrogen as a clean fuel source. The White House Science Fair Young Innovator.
Valerie Ding
Computer Scientist
Combining quantum physics and computer programming, 18-year old optimized quantum dot solar cells to perform at double the efficiency of conventional solar cells.
Nadine Burke Harris
Pediatrician
Her critical investigation demonstrated that trauma changes a child’s DNA – linking adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress with lifelong risk of health, behavioral and learning problems. Developed a trauma screening tool for pediatricians and launched “the Center for Youth Wellness.”
Lisa Vallino & Betty Rozier
Nurse & Entrepreneur
Mother-Daughter team invented an intravenous catheter shield that increases the safety and ease of IV use.
Jessica Richman
Computational Social Scientist
Launched uBiome, the world’s largest citizen-science project that uses big data to understand bacteria by sequencing the microbiome (the trillions of microorganisms on our bodies). Launched SmartGut, the world’s first sequencing-based clinical microbiome test. As inventor, has filed over 100 patents.
Melati & Isabel Wijsen
“Bye Bye Plastic Bags”
Sisters from the Indonesian island of Bali, launched a global campaign to ban plastic bags. Indonesia is the second largest plastic polluter in the world after China. Most bags end up in the ocean, polluting the water and harming marine life. Their impact: convinced Bali’s Governor to commit to a “plastic bag-free” island by 2018. Indonesia pledged $1 billion to reduce marine waste by 70% by 2025 joining the UN’s Clean Seas program.
Helen Hobbs
Molecular Geneticist
Discovered the mutations that lower cholesterol levels. Her groundbreaking studies led to the development of a new class of highly effective cholesterol-lowering drugs and new approaches to the prevention of cardiovascular and liver disease.
Emily Duffy
Social Entrepreneur
18-year old created the “Duffily Bag” – a sleeping bag that is lightweight, waterproof, heat retaining, non-flammable and highly reflective to combat homelessness. Using bubblewrap, velcro and waterproof metallic tape to fix some of the key problems with existing cloth bags, Duffy’s cheap and durable sleeping alternative is ready for emergency and disaster zones.
Janet Rossant
Developmental Biologist
Discovered the origin of cells in early embryos that give rise to all tissues, the entire body and the placenta. Her fundamental research informed the development of human pluripotent stem cells. “From embryos to stem cells to personalized medicine” her findings have the potential to treat devastating degenerative diseases.
Kyla Guru
#eSafety Activist
15-year old student created Bits N’ Bytes Cybersecurity Education (BNBCE), to spread awareness about cyber security, cyber bullying, respect and safety on the Internet. Guru’s platform teaches digital literacy skills to more than 50 million students and 4.5 million educators worldwide.
Meeman Chang
Paleontologist
Transformed the field of Paleontology. Conducted pioneer research on fossil records (the skull anatomy of the earliest lobe-finned fishes and tetrapods from 400 million year old rocks in China) leading to our understanding of how aquatic vertebrates adapted to life on land. Species, fossils, even a dinosaur are all named in her honor.
Yamuna Krishnan
Chemist
Her ‘DNA nanodevices’ (synthetic DNA strands engineered to have artificial function)s, have been successfully used to map the going-ons inside living cells. Her new company Esya looks to diagnose lysosomal disorders, (rare neurodegenerative diseases that affect children).
Tebello Nyokong
Chemist
Pioneer work harnessing light to treat cancer. Named a “Top 10 Most Influential Woman in Science and Technology in Africa.”
Florence Nightingale
Nurse & Statistician
The founder of modern nursing. Established the first scientifically based nursing school. The first woman awarded the Order of Merit (1907). International Nurses Day, observed annually on May 12, commemorates her birth.
Veena Sahajwalla
Inventor & Engineer
“Waste Warrior” and inventor of ‘Green Steel’ demonstrated that plastic/rubber waster can replace coal in steelmaking. Her innovation to recycle tires prevented 2 million rubber-parts from entering Australia’s landfill. Today her micro-factories turn trash into treasure by transforming e-waste from mobile phones into useful materials.
Georgina Mace
Evolutionary Ecologist
The guardian of biodiversity. Developed the criteria to measure species extinction risk, used today by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for their Red List of Threatened Species, the world’s authority on conservation.
Asima Chatterjee
Organic Chemist
Her groundbreaking research led to the development of drugs that treat epilepsy, malaria and cancer. A world-class chemist and leading authority on phytomedicine. India’s first female Doctorate of Science.
Francisca Nneka Okeke
Physicist
Pioneer work into geomagnetism and the equatorial electrojet phenomena. Her discoveries on how solar activity and daily variations of the ion currents in the upper atmosphere affects the Earth’s magnetic field could lead to better understanding of climate change determine tsunamis and earthquakes.
Naomi Estay & Omayra Toro
Explorers
Pathfinders, at 17 and 18 years old travelled to Antarctica and identified bacterial strains with the potential to clean up oil spills.
Alison Bick
Chemical Engineer
“Making Water Safe.” At 17-years old invented a water quality app to accurately determine bacteria content in water. Her invention determines contamination levels with top accuracy (65%-organic material and 80%-inorganic material), and was found 200x cheaper than standard testing procedures.
Tu Youyou
Chemist
Discovered the world’s most-effective malaria-fighting drugs (artemisinin also known as qinghaosu and dihydroartemisinin). Considered a significant breakthrough in 20th century tropical medicine, saving millions of people living in South Asia, Africa and South America. The first person in China to win a Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Eesha Khare
Chemist
At 19-years old, invented a 20-second charger. Her supercapacitor energy storage device holds a charge longer than any other devices on the market, and could potentially energize from cell phones to cars.
Hayley Todesco
Molecular Geneticist
At 16-years old invented a new water filtering system using sand and bacteria to remove oil/toxic waste and recover water for reuse. Could have major benefits to global environmental efforts.
Chen Hualan
Animal Virologist
Called “China’s Bird Flu Warrior” her transformative research on the virus that causes avian influenza or bird flu, led to the development of an effective vaccine.
Ann Makosinski
Inventor
19-year old invented the ‘Hollow Flashlight’, which runs off the heat of the human hand. Also created ‘eDrink’, a mug that converts heat from your drink into an electric current to charge your phone. Passionate about harvesting surplus energy.
Cecilia Bouzat
Biochemist & Neuroscientist
Demonstrated how brain cells communicate with each other and muscles. Her critical discoveries enhanced our understanding of the major causes of neurological disorders and opened the door to new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, depression and addictive behaviors.
Kayo Inaba
Immunology & Medicine
Leading expert on dendritic cells. First scientist to prove these cells could be treated outside the body and reintroduced into the organism to stimulate immune system response. Her breakthrough discovery launched a new anti-cancer treatment.
Brienne Ghafourifar
Economist
Building the 1st universal communicator – a smart platform that combines machine learning and cognitive AI to give users seamless access to people, services, things. At 17-years old became the youngest college graduate to raise 1M for her company Entify (today 18M raised). Her tech could become “the holy grail of unification of services and channels of communication.”
Andrea Gamarnik
Molecular Virologist
At the leading-edge of understanding “dengue fever” – a deadly virus spread by mosquitos affecting 390 million people a year. Considered one of the most important human viral pathogens of our time, there is currently no vaccine or treatment available.
Marian Bechtel
Physics major
From ‘Banjos to Landmines’, at 17-years old invented a device leveraging sound to detect explosive land mines. The innovation uses an acoustic detection device on the frame of a scrap metal. detector.
Segenet Kelemu
Molecular Biologist
Plant Pathology. Called a “Hero in the Field.” Her pioneer work in the scientific study of insects has transformed our understanding of pests, drought and climate change. Named one of 10 Most Influential African Women in Agriculture.
Silvia Torres-Peimbert
Astronomer
Determined the chemical composition of nebulae, including the Orion Nebula which showed similarities to our own Sun. Her findings are considered essential to our understanding of the beginning of the cosmos and the evolution of stars and galaxies.
Sharon Lin
Software Engineer
18-year old developed a mobile app “White Water” that detects contaminated water with a 95% accuracy rate. Over 60% of all preventable deaths are caused by water-borne diseases, like malaria and schistosomiasis. Lin’s invention lets users determine the microbial content of their water in seconds.
Paige Brown
Inventor
17-year-old designed a biodegradable ‘scaffold’ to extract harmful phosphorus from contaminated water using seaweed, hair clips and a block of foam. Costing only 4 cents, this algea gel could impact 1.2 billion people around the world suffering from waterborne illnesses, like hepatitis.
Bonnie Bassler
Molecular Biologist
Called the “Bacteria Whisperer” discovered bacteria communicate and coordinate their behavior. Applications of her breakthough research includes development of novel antimicrobial therapeutics.
Kiara Nirghin
Inventor
“No More Thirsty Crops.” 16-year old invents a biodegradable super-absorbent polymer using orange peels and avocado skins to fight South Africa’s drought crisis. The material is capable of storing reserves of water 100x its own weight. Potential to revolutionize farming in water-scarce areas.
Erin Smith
Biotechnology
Student. 16-year old developed FacePrint, a tool to diagnose and monitor Parkinson’s disease. Requiring only a computer and webcam, FacePrint offers an inexpensive, remote tool to detect early stage Parkinson within milliseconds.
Tricia Compas-Markman
Civil Engineer
Invented the DayOne Waterbag, a “water treatment plant in a backpack” capable of cleaning contaminated water in 30 minutes. Her work has provided 150,000+ people in Ethiopia with clean water after natural disasters.
Huda Yahya Zoghbi
Pediatric Neurologist
Discovered the genetic causes of two rare brain disorders: spinocerebellar ataxia and Rett syndrome (a brain disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls, appearing 6 months after birth affecting the child’s ability to speak, walk, eat, and even breathe easily). Her critical work has laid the groundwork for targeted therapies for Alzheimer’s and autism.
Anne McLaren
Geneticist
Pioneer of mammalian genetics and embryology (first successful in-vitro implantation of mouse embryos, carried to term). Her findings led advances in human IVF and fertility treatments. Cofounded the Frozen Ark, a repository of genetic material from endangered animals.
Maryna Viazovska
Mathematician
Solved a 400-year math conjecture surrounding ‘the sphere-packing problem’ in dimension 8 and 24. Her remarkable work has applications in wireless communication and space probes.
Titia de Lange
Molecular Biology
Breakthrough research on telomeres. Demonstrated how telomeres protect chromosome ends and their role in genome instability in cancer.
Joanne Chory
Biology
Discovered how plants optimize their growth and transform sunlight into chemical energy. Her research is a major breakthrough to combat global warming, with a potential to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide by 50%.
Anne Wojcicki
Biology
Founded a personal genetics company (23&Me) that has transformed the future of health. Over 3-million individuals have accessed their health ancestry because of her company.
Karen Dubbin
Materials Scientist
At the forefront of 3D BioPrinting. Created “bio-inks” to build tissues, an area of research she pioneered while getting her PhD. Named Forbes 30 under 30.
Ying Diao
Chemical Engineer
Printing eco-friendly plastics used for electronics, renewable energy, and healthcare. Made organic solar cells and invented a novel microscopic “comb” that controls the flow of molecules to assemble layers into orderly structures. Developed organic plastic that can detect disease markers in a person’s breath.
Katherine Taylor
Mechanical Engineer
Invented an affordable and portable solar-powered irrigation system so farmers can cultivate year-round. The centrifugal pump has x3 the efficiency of similar-size diesel pumps and can be powered by just 1/3 as many photovoltaic panels. The impact of her work could positively impact 30 million farmers in East India.
Muyinatu Bell
Biomedical Engineer
Pioneering noninvasive medical imaging techniques for early cancer detection and to visualize blood vessels during neurosurgeries. Innovative integration of optics, acoustics and robotics could significantly improve patient care.
Canan Dagdeviren
Materials Scientist
Creating a new class of biomedical electronics: a wearable sensor that detects skin cancer and a first-of-its kind, flexible energy harvester that uses the movement of organs to send power directly to devices like pacemakers, implantable defibrillators and cardiac monitors.
Elizabeth Nance
Chemical Engineer
Developed the first nanoparticles that can penetrate the brain. The implications include targeted drug therapy, better images for physicians/researchers to access regions of the brain not previously reachable, and possibly treatment of stroke, autism, cerebral palsy.
Norma Elizabeth Martínez
Medical Doctor
Created ‘Insight Alert’ a medical device capable of detecting and preventing septicemia. Neonatal sepsis kills 1 million newborn babies every year. Martinez invented a smart waterproof bandage, that is disposable and changes color in reaction to the wound it covers. Potential to save millions of lives.
Suchi Saria
Computer Scientist
Created a novel algorithm to predict the patients most at risk for sepsis, a life threatening reaction to infection. Correctly predicted septic shock in 85% of cases, within 1-day of onset at 60% improvement over current screening tests.
Amanda Randles
Biomedical Engineer
Her code (named HARVEY) simulates blood flow in the human body. The impact includes better understanding of human diseases from atherosclerosis to cancer, to scanning newborns with heart problems.
Nergis Mavalvala
Astrophysicist
LIGO team member – confirmed Albert Einstein’s 1915 general theory of relativity by observing for the first time in history gravitational waves (i.e., ripples in the fabric of spacetime).
Zhenan Bao
Chemical Engineer
Developing artificial skin. The ultimate goal: to create electronic material that mimics human skin – sensitive to touch, able to flex, stretch, biodegrade and self-heal. Applied to prosthetics, robots and sensors increasing a patient’s quality of life.
Radha Boya
Materials Science
Building the world’s smallest fluid channel to transform filtration of water and gases. Exploring the applications of atomic scale nanocapillaries.
Shubham Issar, Amanat Anand, Yogita Agrawal
Industrial Designers
Invented a revolutionary soap crayon to reduce infant mortality by promoting handwashing in children aged 3 to 6. Their overall goal is to prevent the annual deaths of 1.5 million children from infectious illnesses.
Ashlee Howarth
Chemist
Creates new materials to clean wastewater generated from coal and nuclear power plants. Develops materials that can detoxify mustard gas. Decontaminating military equipment and eliminating stockpiles worldwide.
Akshaya Shanmugam
Engineer
Launched wearable technology device to solve addiction. By combining machine learning, behavioural psychology and wearable tech the software automatically detects addictive behaviour, predicts indulgence and delivers clinically validated interventions. Named Forbes 30 under 30.
Florencia Montini
Materials Engineer & Nanotechnology
A scientific first: pioneered a new biomimetic conduit resembling blood vessets that does not clot and is easily reabsorbed by the body. Her work could significally impact the cardiovascular field.
Ritu Raman
Mechanical Engineer
Developing bio-hybrid systems to build muscle powered robots. Creating long-lasting capsules to safely deliver drugs to the stomach, and brain. At the forefront of blending biology and synthetic material. Named Forbes 30 under 30 and AAAS L’Oreal USA for Women in Science Fellow.
Jessica Mathews
Business & Psychology
Harnessing energy from motion to democratize access worldwide. Created a soccer ball that doubles as a power generator, launched a startup and STEM program in Harlem, and is developing the first private hydroelectric 30-megawatt dam in Nigeria. Named Fortune’s Most Promising Women Entrepreneurs and Harvard University’s Scientist of the Year.
Agustina Fainguersch
Computer Scientist
Developed a mobile app to quickly and cheaply diagnose HIV. The diagnostician enters the phone number of the patient and the code of the test being performed – reducing cost, travel and removing social stigma. MIT Innovator under 35.
Amber Yang
Astrophysicist
Space debris tracker. 18-year old developed a computer program using artificial neural networks that predicts the future path of space junk with 98% accuracy. Named Forbes 30 under 30.
Amy Smith
Mechanical Engineer
Her invention turned farm waste into clean-burning charcoal. MacArthur “genius” grant recipient. First woman to win the Lemelson-MIT Prize.
Adina Mangubat
Psychology
Launched a leading bioinformatics startup focused on sequencing genomic data. The cloudbased software can identify genetic variations in DNA from large dataset, with implications in personalized medicine and cancer research.
Siobhan Pattwell
Neuroscientist
Discovering how chemical changes in the brain during adolescence can result in anxiety disorder spikes for teens. Her work leverages behavioral, molecular, and genetic techniques to understand the developing brain.
Joy Buolamwini
Computer Scientist
“Poet of Code” driving compassion through computation. Founded the Algorithmic Justice League to fight bias in Machine Learning. MIT researcher, Rhodes Scholar, Fulbright Fellow, Google Anita Borg Scholar, Astronaut Scholar, The White House and Vatican speaker, Carter Center technical consultant.
Christine Fleming
Electrical Engineer
Designed a new type of catheter capable of imaging heart muscle. The technology could impact how physicians pinpoint the source of irregular heart rhythms without invasive biopsies.
Rebeca Hwang-Scheel
Chemical Engineer
An outlier in the world of tech startups. Co-founder Rivet Ventures, YouNoodle, CleanTech Open, and Startup Malaysia. Named World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Top 35 under 35 Global Innovators by MIT Tech Review, and Forbes’ 20 Inspiring Young Female Founders.
Diva Tommei
Bioinformatics
Inventor of Caia, the world’s 1st portable and affortable robot delivering natural sunlight to your home. World Economic Forum’s Global Shaper, MIT’s Young Global Innovator, European Union’s Top 50 most influential women in startups.
Gladys West
Mathematician
Pioneer calculations helped launch GPS (Global Positioning System) revolutionizing travel and forever impacting every industry in the world today.
Candace Pert
Neuroscientist
Neuroscientist, Pharmacologist. Discovered ‘opiate receptor’ – the cellular binding site for endorphins in the brain, the body’s natural painkillers.
Radia Perlman
Computer Scientist
Invented the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) – a file sharing protocol between computers. Her breakthrough made today’s internet possible changing fundamentally the way it runs. Holds over 100 patents.
Hua Wu
Artificial Intelligence
Leading “pathbreaker” in natural language processing (NLP). Designed a framework operating 100 million translations a day.
Rana el Kaliouby
Computer Scientist
Defining the field of “emotion AI.” Developing facial recognition technology to measure feelings and autism.
Ada Yonah
Crystallographer
Mapped the structure of ribosomes. A critical discovery in the production of antibiotics.
Annie Jump Cannon
Astronomer
Pioneered the system for cataloging stars. Classified over 200,000 stars.
Daphne Koller
Computer Scientist
Launched Coursera, the world’s largest online education platform.
Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard
Geneticist
Discovered how genes in a fertilized egg direct the formation of an embryo.
Linda Buck
Geneticist
Discovered the genes that govern our sense of smell. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
May-Britt Moser
Neuroscientist
Discovered “grid cells” – the way our brain maps the places we have been and where we are now.
Nettie Stevens
Biologist & Geneticist
Discovered the chromosomes that determine sex (known today as XY chromosomes).
Esther Lederberg
Microbiologist
Discovered the virus ‘lambda phage’ that infects E. coli. Confirmed bacteria mutate randomly and acquire resistance to antibiotics.
Laura Cadonati & Deirdre Shoemaker
Physicists
LIGO team members-discovered gravitational waves and proved Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Ana Maiques
Economist
Launched a non-invasive wireless medical device that reads the human brain and treats chronic pain.
Tan Le
Entrepreneur
Launched a computer interface that reads brainwaves and moves objects with mere thought.
Marie Tharp
Geologist & Oceanographer
Mapped the ocean floor. Discovered “the backbone of earth.”
Sylvia Earle
Oceanographer
At the forefront of ocean exploration and advocacy. World record holder for deepest solo dive. Discovered undersea dunes.
Frances Arnold
Engineer
Pioneered a new field called ‘directed evolution.’ First to engineer entirely new proteins never before seen in nature.
Jane Goodall
Primatologist
The world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees. Discovered how chimps make/use tools. “The woman who redefined [hu]man.”
Rosemary Grant
Evolutionary Biologist
Demonstrated ‘evolution in action’ in Galápagos finches. Forever changed biology and ecology.
Janet Rowley
Geneticist
“The Matriarch of Modern Cancer Genetics.” First scientist to identify the cause of leukemia. Her findings established cancer as a genetic disease and made possible the development of targeted drug therapies.
Fei-Fei Li
Computer Scientist & Robotics
Artificial Intelligence influencer, produced one of the first computer vision models capable of generating human-like sentences to describe an image it “sees.” Co-Founder, AI4All. Over 100 scientific articles published. Named Foreign Policy’s 2015 Global Thinkers.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
Zoologist
Zoologist and Master Brewer. Biotech pioneer contributed to the global understanding and development of new enzymes. Led an industry shift from applying polluting chemicals to eco-friendly enzymes. Founder of Biocon, Asia’s largest insulin producer. $2.4 billion net worth, India’s richest self-made woman. Othmer Gold Medal recipient.
Samantha Manquez
Science Innovator
Developed ‘celloidosomes’ a new 3D cell structure organized by cell self-assembly process. 18-year old holds 7 patents. Her discovery could fundamentally alter organ regeneration and neural tissue transplantation.
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin
Chemist
Successfully determined the structures of penicillin (1946), vitamin B12 (1956) and insulin (1969). Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Angela Zhang
Biomedical Engineer
Discovered a particular nanoparticle that can detect and fight cancer. Winner Intel International Science & Engineering Fair, National Siemens Competition and White House Science Fair presenter.
Seema Prakash
Botanist
Trailblazer leads the future of food production with novel solution to end world hunger. Discovered a cost-effective plant cloning process called ’glass bead liquid culture technology’. Potential global impact to propagate cloned plants with 100% survival rate at 98% cost. Global Female Innovator Award.
Gertrude Elion
Biochemistry
Developed the first immunosuppressive drug used for organ transplant. Conducted pioneer research targeting pathogens without harming the host cells. Discovered new drugs for leukemia, malaria and AIDS. First woman inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Sophia Sánchez-Maes
Scientist
Founder, Girls Get Tech. Turned algae into biofuel. Pioneered a chemical method called hydrothermal liquefaction turning extremophile algae into fuel. Could revolutionize energy creation and wastewater infrastructure worldwide. National Science Foundation Young Scholar Award.
Pardis Sabeti
Geneticist & Virologist
Sequenced the genome of the Ebola virus confirming the spread was human to human (not via mosquito or pig). The first use of real-time DNA sequencing during a pandemic. National Academy of Sciences Award and TIME Magazine’s 2015 Person of the Year.
Elizabeth Blackburn & Carol Greider
Molecular Biologists
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discovery that chromosomes are protected during cell division by telomeres, and by the enzyme telomerase. Their research transformed our understanding of death and aging.
Hannah Herbst
Problem-Solver
Founder, Project STEAM. 15-year old invented a turbine called BEACON converting ocean current into energy, and access to clean water. Winner Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge.
Lesley Marincola
Mechanical Engineer
Founder of Angaza. Her disruptive approach provides affordable off-grid solar energy as the only ‘pay as you go’ solution for small (½-watt) clean energy devices. World Economic Forum-Global Shaper.
Azza Abdel Hamid
Biofuel Innovator
Transformed plastic into biofuel by identifying a catalyst called aluminosilicate. The breakthrough trash-to-fuel formula can be done cheaply, without emitting toxic gases. Potential $78 million clean energy production annually. European Fusion Development Agreement Award.
Liu Yang
Taikonaut
Code name Little Flying Knight. Air Force Major and member of the space mission Shenzou 9 becomes China’s first female astronaut (or “taikonaut”) and first woman in Space.v
Chien-Shiung Wu
Nuclear Physicist
Known as “the First Lady of Physics.” Contributed to the Manhattan Project by developing a process to enrich uranium ore as fuel for atomic bombs. Made history with the Wu experiment, using cobalt-60 she disproved the hypothetical law of conservation of parity. National Women’s Hall of Fame and National Medal of Science recipient.
Jocelyn Bell Burnell
Astrophysicist
Discovered the first radio pulsars -considered one of the greatest astronomical discoveries of the 20th century. Demonstrated the first direct evidence for the existence of rapidly spinning neutron stars. Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Emmy Noether
Mathematician
Known for her landmark contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics. Described by Albert Einstein, and others as the most important woman in the history of mathematics.
Marian Diamond
Neuroscientist
Pioneer of modern neuroscience. Produced the first scientific evidence of anatomical neuroplasticity, changing forever the way we understand the brain. Discoverd a link between positive thinking and immune health. Conducted research on Albert Einstein’s brain finding one of the first key differences in the scientific genius’ brain; it had more glial cells per neuron than the average male brain.
Elizabeth Mynatt
Computer Scientist
Pioneered nonspeech auditory interfaces from graphical interfaces to enable blind computer users to work with modern computer applications. Leading researcher in human-computer interaction, ubiquitous computing, health informatics, and assistive technology. Over 100 scientific papers published and four patents awarded.
Deepika Kurup
Inventor
Clean Water Advocate. 19-year old invented a solar-powered water purification system that resulted in 100% inactivation of total coliform bacteria in 15 minutes. Global impact includes providing clean, fresh water worldwide and stopping the spread of diseases. Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Award and Forbes’s 30 Under 30 energy influencer.
Jane Chen
Health
Jane Chen, Economics/MBA. Co-founder of Embrace, an infant warmer for premature and low birth-weight babies. Product cost is 1% of a traditional incubator. Estimated over 150,000 babies helped. Awards include World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader, Forbes’ Imapct 30, Economist Innovation Award.
Solange Massa
Educational Technology
Solange Massa, MD/PhD. Created a “liver on a chip” to substitute animal trials for studying drug toxicity.
Martha Coston
Inventor
In 1859 invented and patented a system of red, white, and green “Pyrotechnic Night Signals” called the Coston Flare. Her pioneer work was a critical communications tool for the U.S. Navy. Impact includes saving thousands of lives by signaling ships, warning of dangerous coastal conditions, and summoning rescuers to a wreck scene. Inducted to the National Inventors Hall of Fame
Pratibha Gai
Material Scientist
Developed a way of observing, in-situ, single atoms as they react. Developed new nanomaterials for catalysis, energy storage, healthcare, food coatings, and novel microscopy instrumentation. Co-invented the atomic-resolution environmental transmission electron microscope (ETEM). Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Award.
Maria Teresa Ruiz
Astronomer
Discovered the first free-floating brown dwarf, a new type of celestial body between a star and a planet. Her observations could answer if there is life on other planets. Also helped calculate the age of the Milky Way’s Disk at approx. 8 billion years!
Caroline Buckee
Epidemiologist
Discovered a novel way to track the spread of malaria in Kenya by studying cell phone data. An infectious-disease epidemiologist, her innovative work has the potential to impact how public officials control pandemics/health outbreaks around the globe.
Adriana Ocampo
Planetary Science
Planetary Geologist. Discovered the Chicxulub crater that caused the extinction of 50% of the world’s species (including dinosaurs) 66 million years ago. Currently leading missions to Jupiter, Pluto and Venus. Aims to secure the first asteroid sample. Named one of the 50 Most Important Women in Science by Discover Magazine.
Sangeeta Bhatia
Biotechnology
Biomedical/Mechanical Engineer. Cancer researcher, MIT professor and biotech entrepreneur. Invented synthetic biomarkers that detect cancer through a paper urine test and a human microliver to fight infectious disease by predicting drug toxicity. Co-authored the first undergraduate textbook on tissue engineering. Elected to the National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Science and Lemelson-MIT Prize recipient.
Katherine Freese
Astrophysics
Theoretical Astrophysicist. One of the first to propose ways to discover dark matter. Developed the theaory of a new star, ‘dark star.’ Her pioneer research, if successful could be the first time anyone has ever observed dark matter directly.
Sara Seagar
Astronomy
Astrophisicist. Discovered 715 new planets. Driven to find another Earth. Recognized by Popular Science, Discover Magazine, Nature, TIME Magazine and awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
Nina Tandon
Medicine