Ellen Swallow Richards: the Most Inﬂ Uential Scientist You Probably Never Heard of (Until Now)

JOM, Vol. 66, No. 1, 2014 DOI: 10.1007/s11837-013-0838-2 Ó 2013 The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society

7KDWPDWWHURIIDFWGHWHUPLQDWLRQ ZDVLQGLFDWLYHRIKRZ5LFKDUGV DSSURDFKHGWKHUHVWRIKHUOLIH breaking down barriers and HVWDEOLVKLQJVFLHQWL¿FPRYHPHQWV EHFDXVHVKHEHOLHYHGLWZDVLPSRUWDQW ZRUN³(OOHQZDVFDUHIXOWRµURLO QRZDWHUV¶௘´VDLG3DPHOD6ZDOORZ 5LFKDUGV¶VELRJUDSKHUDQG¿UVWFRXVLQ WKUHHJHQHUDWLRQVUHPRYHG³6KH EHKDYHGZLWKH[WUDRUGLQDU\WDFW NQRZLQJKRZPXFKGHSHQGHGXSRQ KHUVXFFHVV6KHZDQWHGWRQRWRQO\ RSHQDGRRUIRUKHUVHOIEXWWRNHHSLW RSHQIRURWKHUZRPHQWRIROORZ+HU strategy was to become very useful DQGWRGHPRQVWUDWHKRZFDSDEOHVKH ZDV´ 5LFKDUGV¶VVWUDWHJ\PLJKWKDYH been too successful: her name XVXDOO\GRHVQ¶WOHDSWRWKHWRSRI PRVWSHRSOH¶VOLVWVRIJURXQGEUHDNLQJ IHPDOHVFLHQWLVWV$QG\HWWKHSRZHU RIKHUDFFRPSOLVKPHQWVFDQ¶WEH (Photo courtesy of Pamela Swallow, with permission for use from the MIT Archives.) GHQLHG²WKH¿UVW86ZRPDQWR EHDFFHSWHGWRDFROOHJHRIVFLHQFH DQGWHFKQRORJ\WKH¿UVWIHPDOH member of the American Institute Ellen Swallow RI0LQLQJ0HWDOOXUJLFDODQG 3HWUROHXP(QJLQHHUV $,0( D SLRQHHULQDSSO\LQJVFLHQFHWRLPSURYH Richards: community health and safety; and a IRXQGHURIWKHHFRORJ\PRYHPHQW 6JG/QUV+PƀWGPVKCN5EKGPVKUV;QW ZLWKVLJQL¿FDQWFRQWULEXWLRQVWR establishing early standards for clean Probably Never Heard Of (Until Now) ZDWHU LQSKRWRDERYH5LFKDUGVDQGD FROOHDJXHFROOHFWZDWHUVDPSOHV Lynne Robinson 5LFKDUGV¶VIDUUHDFKLQJLQÀXHQFHLQ science and society were a revelation The cave entrance loomed high SDUWRIWKHH[SHGLWLRQZDVQRZKHUHWR WR(OL]DEHWK+ROP706 above their heads—a hard and be found. SUHVLGHQWZKR¿UVWKHDUGRI5LFKDUGV dangerous climb in the grueling (OOHQ6ZDOORZ5LFKDUGVKDG GXULQJDUHFHQWSUHVHQWDWLRQRQWKH sun. But they had heard the tales of decided to see the cave for herself. KLVWRU\RI$,0(E\LWV± unique calcite and iron ore stalactites Weighed down by the heavy SUHVLGHQW*HRUJH/X[EDFKHU+HU and stalagmites that had formed VNLUWVDQGVWD\VDQGSHWWLFRDWVWKDW FXULRVLW\SLTXHG+ROPORRNHGXS inside and were eager to satisfy HQFXPEHUHGZRPHQLQWKHODWHV 5LFKDUGV¶VELRJUDSK\DQG³ZDV WKHLUVFLHQWL¿FFXULRVLW\5REHUW+ VKHSXOOHGKHUVHOIKDQGRYHUKDQG DPD]HG´ 5LFKDUGVKHDGRIWKH0DVVDFKXVHWWV XSDURSHDQGZDVWKH¿UVWRIWKH0,7 ³(OOHQ5LFKDUGVZDVDSLRQHHU ,QVWLWXWHRI7HFKQRORJ\¶V 0,7 SDUW\WRHQWHUWKHFDYH+HUKXVEDQG LQGLYHUVLW\ZKRLQKHURZQZD\ 0LQLQJ(QJLQHHULQJ'HSDUWPHQWKDG VRRQIROORZHGDQ[LRXVWKDWVKHKDG overcame seemingly insurmountable gathered the students and colleagues PDGHVXFKDSHULORXVDWWHPSWRQKHU EDUULHUVWREHFRPHDQDFFRPSOLVKHG DFFRPSDQ\LQJKLPRQWKLVDGYHQWXUH RZQ$OWKRXJKDEXPSRQWKHKHDG SURIHVVLRQDOPHPEHURIWKH to strategize how best to access these KDGNQRFNHGKHUXQFRQVFLRXVVKH HQJLQHHULQJHVWDEOLVKPHQW´VDLG geological wonders. That’s when he ZDVMXVW¿QH³,WZDVDYHU\VSLF\ +ROP³+HUVZDVWKHEDWWOHWKDW UHDOL]HGWKDWKLVZLIHZKRZDVDOVR DGYHQWXUH´VKHODWHUZURWH LVIRXJKWHYHU\GD\WKURXJKTXLHW 15 16 Ellen Swallow Richards: The Most Inﬂ uential Scientist You Probably Never Heard Of (Until Now)

SHUVHYHUDQFHDQGE\KDYLQJKHU H[DPSOHEHWKHYLVLEOHSURRIRIZKDW “The only trouble here is they won’t let us study ZRPHQFRXOGDFKLHYH´ enough. They are so afraid we shall break down and +ROPDVWKHOHDGRUJDQL]HUIRUWKH )LUVW7066XPPLWRQ&UHDWLQJDQG . . . the reputation of the College is at stake, for the 6XVWDLQLQJ'LYHUVLW\LQWKH0LQHUDOV question is, can girls get a college degree without 0HWDOVDQG0DWHULDOV3URIHVVLRQV VHH VLGHEDUDUWLFOH VXJJHVWHGFRQYHQLQJ ruining their health?” WKHHYHQWLQ5LFKDUGV¶VKRQRUDVRQH ZD\WRFDVWDORQJRYHUGXHVSRWOLJKW –Ellen Swallow Richards in a letter to her parents, while RQKHUFRQWULEXWLRQV,QDGGLWLRQWKH attending Vassar 706%RDUGXQGHU+ROP¶VOHDGHUVKLS HVWDEOLVKHGWKH(OOHQ6ZDOORZ involved in efforts to advance the UHFRPPHQGHGWKDWVKHVSHQGDVPXFK 5LFKDUGV'LYHUVLW\$ZDUG VHHVLGHEDU cause of diversity and inclusion within WLPHDVSRVVLEOHLQWKHIUHVKDLUIRU DUWLFOH WRKRQRULQGLYLGXDOVZKRKDYH RXU¿HOG´ KHUKHDOWKDQGVKHKDSSLO\SDVVHGKHU ZDONHGDVLPLODUSDWKWR5LFKDUGV¶V GD\VH[SORULQJWKHRXWGRRUV7KRVH ³7KLVDZDUGRIIHUVDXQLTXH 6JG.WTGQHő2TCEVKECN5EKGPEGŒ early observations of nature ignited UHFRJQLWLRQRSSRUWXQLW\´VDLG+ROP *OLPSVHVRI(OOHQ6ZDOORZ KHUSDVVLRQIRUVFLHQFHDQGKHUIDWKHU ³:HZDQWWRPDNHVXUHWKDWPHPEHUV 5LFKDUGV¶VGULYHWRRSHQVFLHQFH 3HWHU6ZDOORZWRRNQRWLFH RIWRGD\¶VSURIHVVLRQDOFRPPXQLW\ beyond the traditional boundaries of ³+HUHFRJQL]HGWKDWKLVGDXJKWHU DUHDZDUHRIWKHLUFROOHDJXHVZKR her time can be seen in her childhood ZDVH[FHSWLRQDOO\EULJKWDQGJLIWHG OLNH(OOHQ6ZDOORZ5LFKDUGVDUH RQDVPDOOIDUPLQ'XQVWDEOH )LJXUH DQGEHOLHYHGWKDWVKH role models in their determination 0DVVDFKXVHWWV%RUQDQRQO\FKLOG deserved better than they could and courage in the face of adversity. LQ5LFKDUGVZDVIUDLODQG JLYHKHURQWKHIDUP´VDLG3DPHOD %\FHOHEUDWLQJWKHLUDFKLHYHPHQWV VLFNO\SURPSWLQJKHUSDUHQWVZKR 6ZDOORZ3HWHU6ZDOORZVROGKLVIDUP ZHKRSHWRSURYLGHLQVSLUDWLRQDQG ZHUHERWKWHDFKHUVWRKRPHVFKRRO and moved his family to the nearby DI¿UPDWLRQWRWKRVHSURIHVVLRQDOVZKR KHUVRVKHZRXOGQ¶WEHH[SRVHGWR WRZQRI:HVWIRUGVR5LFKDUGVFRXOG DUHDGGUHVVLQJFKDOOHQJHVRIWKHLURZQ WKHGLVHDVHVWKDWUDQUDPSDQWLQWKH DWWHQG:HVWIRUG$FDGHP\RQHRIWKH as well as those who want to become ORFDORQHURRPVFKRRO+HUSK\VLFLDQ ¿UVWFRHGXFDWLRQDOVHFRQGDU\VFKRROV LQWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV7KHGHFLVLRQWR VDFUL¿FHVRPXFKIRUDGDXJKWHU¶V education was highly unconventional IRUWKHWLPHJLYHQWKDWWKHVWDWHRI 0DVVDFKXVHWWVGLGQRWHYHQUHTXLUH JLUOVWRDWWHQGVFKRRO5LFKDUGV FRPSOHWHGKHUVWXGLHVDW:HVWIRUGLQ WZR\HDUVZKLOHKHOSLQJKHUIDWKHU manage a general store that the family had bought to make ends meet. 5LFKDUGV³GHVSHUDWHO\ZDQWHGWR VWXG\PRUHVFLHQFH´VDLG3DPHOD 6ZDOORZ$IWHUUHDGLQJLQGodey’s Lady’s BookWKDW9DVVDU&ROOHJHLQ New York was hiring staff to teach Figure 1. From an early VFLHQFH5LFKDUGVVHWKHUVLJKWVRQ age, Ellen Swallow IXUWKHULQJKHUHGXFDWLRQWKHUH6KH Richards loved nature ZRUNHGDVDVFKRROWHDFKHUWXWRU and animals, while also displaying a tireless QDQQ\FRRNDQGVHDPVWUHVVIRUWKUHH work ethic. “She never \HDUVWRVDYHWKHIRURQH\HDU¶V wasted a minute,” WXLWLRQ:KHQVKH¿QDOO\WRRN9DVVDU¶V said Pamela Swallow. HQWUDQFHH[DPLQDWLRQVKHSODFHGLQDV “She would even knit DMXQLRUGHVSLWHKDYLQJRQO\WZR\HDUV or read while walking of formal education. to classes at Vassar.” (Family photo courtesy 5LFKDUGVTXLFNO\PDGHDQDPH of Pamela Swallow.) IRUKHUVHOIDVDSDVVLRQDWHOHDUQHURI UDUHLQWHOOHFWVDLG3DPHOD6ZDOORZ Ellen Swallow Richards: The Most Inﬂ uential Scientist You Probably Never Heard Of (Until Now) 17

6KHGHYHORSHGKHUJLIWIRUVFLHQWL¿F IHPDOHV´,Q-DQXDU\5LFKDUGV ODG\JRGXULQJDEXGJHWFXW(OOHQGLG REVHUYDWLRQDQGSUHFLVLRQXQGHU0DULD EHJDQKHUVWXGLHVDW0,7DVWKH¿UVW WKHODERUDWRU\FOHDQLQJDQGNHSWWKH 0LWFKHOOWKH¿UVW$PHULFDQZRPDQ American woman to be admitted VXSSOLHVLQRUGHU6KHGLGZKDWHYHU WRZRUNDVDSURIHVVLRQDODVWURQRPHU to any university of science and she thought was needed to gain their DQG9DVVDU¶V¿UVWDSSRLQWHGIDFXOW\ technology. WUXVWDQGDFFHSWDQFH´ member. It was her studies with *HWWLQJLQWR0,7SURYHGWREHRQO\ 5LFKDUGVZDVHYHQWXDOO\SHUPLWWHG &KDUOHV)DUUDU9DVVDU¶VSURIHVVRURI WKH¿UVWKXUGOHIRU5LFKDUGV6HYHUDO to attend classes with the rest of the FKHPLVWU\DQGSK\VLFVKRZHYHUWKDW SURIHVVRUVUHIXVHGWRWHDFKKHUDQG student body. The academic rigor SRLQWHGKHUWRKHUOLIH¶VZRUN³&KDUOHV she was segregated from the rest of suited her and she was soon tutoring )DUUDULQWURGXFHGKHUWRWKHFRQFHSW the school in a basement laboratory PDQ\RIWKHPDOHVWXGHQWV6KHZDV RIDSSOLHGFKHPLVWU\ZKLFKUHDOO\ UHVHUYHGIRUPLQHUDORJ\VWXGLHV³6KH SDUWLFXODUO\LQWHUHVWHGLQJHRORJ\DQG DSSHDOHGWRKHU´VDLG3DPHOD6ZDOORZ ZDVTXLWHVFRUQHGDFWXDOO\´VDLG PLQHUDORJ\3DPHOD6ZDOORZVDLG ³+HUJRDOIURPDQHDUO\DJHZDVWREH 3DPHOD6ZDOORZ³6KHZDVWROGWR SRVVLEO\GXHWRKHULQWURGXFWLRQWRWKH XVHIXODQGWRFRQWULEXWHWRVRFLHW\6KH NHHSWKHGRRUVKXWZKHQWKHUHZHUH ¿HOGLQWKHEDVHPHQWODERUDWRU\³6KH VDZWKDWWKLVPRUHµSUDFWLFDOVFLHQFH¶ students in the hall and her work KDGDSDUWLFXODUWDOHQWIRUDQDO\]LQJ FRXOGEHXVHGWRKHOSRWKHUV´ ZDVVOLSSHGWRKHUXQGHUWKHGRRU´ URFNVDQGPLQHUDOVDQGHYHQDVDQ Armed with glowing %HWZHHQWKHH[FHSWLRQDOZRUNWKDW XQGHUJUDGXDWHJDLQHGDQLQWHUQDWLRQDO recommendations from Farrar and VKHVOLSSHGEDFNXQGHUWKHGRRUDQG UHSXWDWLRQDVDQDVVD\HU´VKHVDLG 0LWFKHOO5LFKDUGVWULHGWRVHFXUHD KHUQDWXUDOUHVRXUFHIXOQHVV5LFKDUGV ,Q0,7IRUPDOO\³DGRSWHGWKH MREDVDFKHPLVWXSRQJUDGXDWLQJIURP gradually gained ground with some UHFRPPHQGDWLRQWKDW0LVV( Vassar. Although her credentials were RIWKHIDFXOW\³6KHZRQWKHPRYHU +6ZDOORZEHDOORZHGWRSUHVHQW LPSHFFDEOHQRFRPSDQ\ZDVSUHSDUHG E\EHFRPLQJH[WUHPHO\XVHIXO´VDLG KHUVHOIDVDFDQGLGDWHIRUWKH'HJUHH WRKLUHDZRPDQ2QH¿UPGLGVXJJHVW 3DPHOD6ZDOORZ³6KHDOZD\VFDUULHG RIWKH,QVWLWXWHDQGWRWDNHWKH she try to continue her studies in DZRUNNLWDQGZDVWKHSHUVRQWKH\ H[DPLQDWLRQVQHFHVVDU\IRUWKH'HJUHH chemistry at the recently established FRXOGFRPHWRIRUKHOS²ZKHWKHULW LQ&KHPLVWU\´ 0,77KHLGHDDSSHDOHGWR5LFKDUGV ZDVDEURNHQVXVSHQGHURUDFXWKDQG 7KH³6ZDOORZ([SHULPHQW´ )LJXUH DQGVKHVXEPLWWHGKHUDSSOLFDWLRQ :KHQ0,7KDGWROHWWKHFOHDQLQJ KDGFOHDUO\EHHQDVXFFHVVEXWWKH 6JGő5YCNNQY'ZRGTKOGPVŒ The First TMS Summit on Creating and Sustaining 0,7²WKHQNQRZQDV%RVWRQ Tech—had never admitted a female DIVERSITY IN THE MINERALS, METALS, VWXGHQWDQGDFFRUGLQJWR3DPHOD 6ZDOORZKDGQRLQWHQWLRQWRFKDQJH AND MATERIALS PROFESSIONS (DMMM1) ³7KH0,7SUHVLGHQWDQGDGPLVVLRQV Honoring the First Female Member of AIME: Ellen Swallow Richards committee were astounded that they KDGUHFHLYHGVXFKDVWURQJDSSOLFDWLRQ $G2CTVQH$WKNFKPIC/QTG+PENWUKXG/KPGTCNU IURPDZRPDQ´VKHVDLG³7KH\ZHUH LPSUHVVHGZLWKKHUUHFRPPHQGDWLRQV /GVCNUCPF/CVGTKCNU%QOOWPKV[ DQGZRUNDW9DVVDUEXWWKHWKRXJKW The title is a little long, but the order is quite tall. RIKDYLQJDIHPDOHVWXG\DW0,7 The First TMS Summit on Creating and Sustaining Diversity in the Minerals, ZDVDSSDOOLQJWRPDQ\RIWKHP Metals, and Materials Professions (DMMM1): Honoring the First Female 7KH\IRXJKWDERXWLWIRUZHHNV Member of AIME: Ellen Swallow Richards is set to take place July 29–31 at XQWLOWKH\¿QDOO\GHFLGHGWRDGPLW the National Academy of Sciences Building in Washington, D.C. More than a KHUDVWKHµ6ZDOORZ([SHULPHQW¶௘´ 0,7¶VVWUDWHJ\WRDFFHSWVXFKDQ meeting to discuss issues related to diversity, a key goal of the summit is to REYLRXVO\JLIWHGLQGLYLGXDOZKLOH develop actionable strategies and practical resources for creating a culture VWLOOPDLQWDLQLQJVRFLDOFRQYHQWLRQ of inclusion in the workplace. Attendance will be capped at 300 individuals ZDVWREULQJ5LFKDUGVLQDVD³VSHFLDO to ensure optimum interaction and learning. Check the DMMM1 website at VWXGHQW´ZKRZDVQRWUHTXLUHGWRSD\ www.tms.org/diversitysummit for updates and registration details. WXLWLRQ7KDWZD\3DPHOD6ZDOORZ Sponsored by TMS, DMMM1 is co-sponsored by AIME, the National H[SODLQHGWKH\GLGQRWKDYHWRNHHS DQRI¿FLDOUHFRUGRIKHU,QDGGLWLRQ Academy of Engineering, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, the admissions committee noted in and the Society of Women Engineers. It is endorsed by the American LWVPLQXWHVWKDWLWZDV³XQGHUVWRRG Association of Engineering Societies, the American Institute of Chemical that her admission did not establish a Engineers, and the Association for Women in Science. SUHFHGHQWIRUWKHJHQHUDODGPLVVLRQRI 18 Ellen Swallow Richards: The Most Inﬂ uential Scientist You Probably Never Heard Of (Until Now)

GLVWLQFWLRQRIEHLQJ0,7¶V¿UVWIHPDOH ő+QHVGPVJKPMVJCVCNNVJGFKHſEWNVKGUYGGPEQWPVGT IDFXOW\PHPEHU6KHZRXOGJRRQWREH WKHRQO\ZRPDQRI¿FLDOO\WHDFKLQJDW only give us the more strength if we keep hold of 0,7GXULQJKHUOLIHWLPH our work, and we must not now give up while in the Based on the quality of a water SROOXWLRQVXUYH\WKDW5LFKDUGVKDG prime of life. It is best to keep trying, and by and by ZRUNHGRQZLWK:LOOLDP5LSOH\ the opportunity will come. If we have given up, then 1LFKROVWKH0DVVDFKXVHWWV6WDWH %RDUGRI+HDOWKFRPPLVVLRQHG0,7¶V we shall not be ready for it when it does come.” new sanitary chemistry laboratory to —Ellen Swallow Richards, in a letter of encouragement to a FRQGXFWDFRPSUHKHQVLYHVWXG\RIWKH student VWDWH¶VGULQNLQJZDWHULQ2YHU DWZR\HDUSHULRG5LFKDUGVDQGKHU 0,7DGPLQLVWUDWLRQZDVQRWFRQYLQFHG :RPHQ¶V(GXFDWLRQ$VVRFLDWLRQRI DVVLVWDQWVDQDO\]HGPRUHWKDQ WKDWLWFRXOGEHUHSOLFDWHG³(OOHQ %RVWRQ7KH:RPHQ¶V/DERUDWRU\DW ZDWHUVDPSOHVIRUZKDWZDVFRQVLGHUHG DSSURDFKHGWKHPDERXWDGPLWWLQJRWKHU 0,7RSHQHGLQ²ZLWK5LFKDUGV WKHPRVWVLJQL¿FDQWLQGLFDWRURI IHPDOHVWXGHQWVDQGWKH\LQIRUPHG DVLWVXQSDLG³DVVLVWDQWLQVWUXFWRU´ HQYLURQPHQWDOLPSDFWDWWKHWLPH² her that she was a unique case—no )LJXUH +HUVWXGHQWVWKULYHGDQG chlorine from salt used in food and RWKHUZRPDQFRXOGSRVVLEO\PDWFK DV5LFKDUGVUHSRUWHGWRWKH0,7 IRULQGXVWULDOSXUSRVHV)URPWKHVH KHUFDOLEHU´VDLG3DPHOD6ZDOORZ DGPLQLVWUDWLRQ³7KHFDSDELOLW\RI GDWD5LFKDUGVGHYHORSHGVWDQGDUGVIRU 8QGHWHUUHG5LFKDUGVFRQYLQFHG women to carry through a severe DFFHSWDEOHFKORULQHOHYHOVDQGFUHDWHG 0,7WRDOORZKHUWRFRQYHUWDQROG FRXUVHRIVFLHQWL¿FHGXFDWLRQ WKH³1RUPDO&KORULQH0DS´WKDW gymnasium into a laboratory that without injury to body or mind is YLVXDOO\SORWWHGWKHH[WHQWRISROOXWLRQ ZRXOGRIIHUFRXUVHVWRZRPHQZLWK QRZHVWDEOLVKHG´0,7¶VOHDGHUVKLS throughout the state. The results money that she had raised from the HYHQWXDOO\DJUHHGDQGLQYRWHG VSXUUHG0DVVDFKXVHWWVWRHVWDEOLVK WRGLVFRQWLQXHWKH:RPHQ¶V/DERUDWRU\ WKH¿UVWZDWHUTXDOLW\VWDQGDUGVDQG ³DQGVWXGHQWVZLOOEHDGPLWWHG PXQLFLSDOVHZDJHWUHDWPHQWSODQWLQ ZLWKRXWGLVWLQFWLRQRIVH[´ WKHFRXQWU\DQGWKH1RUPDO&KORULQH 0DSEHFDPHWKHPRGHOIRUVLPLODU ő6JG9QTM/CVVGTGF/QUVŒ studies conducted throughout the world A year after the Women’s for years to come. /DERUDWRU\FORVHG0,7DSSRLQWHG :KLOHWKH1RUPDO&KORULQH0DS 5LFKDUGVDVDQLQVWUXFWRULQ³VDQLWDU\ EHFDPHIDPRXVLQVRPHVFLHQWL¿F FKHPLVWU\´²SDLGWKLVWLPH²DQG FLUFOHV5LFKDUGVGLGQRWFRPPHQWHG gave her charge of what would 3DPHOD6ZDOORZHYHQWKRXJKKHU EHFRPHRQHRIWKHQDWLRQ¶V¿UVWSXEOLF LPPHGLDWHVXSHUYLVRU7KRPDV0 health laboratories. This gave her the 'URZQZDVTXLFNWRJLYHKHUFUHGLW

Figure 2. Two years after entering MIT’s ﬁ ve-year program, Richards graduated with a B.S. in chemistry. Concurrently, she earned her master’s degree from Vassar, based on her thesis of the chemical analysis of vanadium. Figure 3. The MIT Women’s Laboratory offered a curriculum that covered (Family photo courtesy of Pamela chemical analysis, industrial chemistry, mineralogy, and applied biology. (Photo Swallow.) courtesy of Pamela Swallow, with permission for use from the MIT Archives.) Ellen Swallow Richards: The Most Inﬂ uential Scientist You Probably Never Heard Of (Until Now) 19

IRUWKHZRUN³6KHOLNHGWKHOHDGHUVKLS UROHVVKHZDVJLYHQEXWVKHZDVQ¶W #YCTF%GNGDTCVGU4QNG/QFGNUKP#FXCPEKPI UHDOO\ORRNLQJIRUIDPH´VKHVDLG ³6KHYLHZHGKHUVHOIDVDSLRQHHUDQG Diversity ZDVVXLWHGWRWKDWUROH,QVWLQFWLYHO\ she knew how to use different “We never can tell how our lives may work to the strategies to maneuver through areas account of the general good, and we are not wise WUDGLWLRQDOO\UHVHUYHGIRUPHQDQG VKHPDQDJHGWRHDUQWKHLUUHVSHFWDQG GPQWIJVQMPQYKHYGJCXGHWNſNNGFQWTOKUUKQPQT admiration without drawing attention to herself. It was the work that not.” PDWWHUHGPRVWWRKHU´ —Ellen Swallow Richards 5LFKDUGV¶VFRPPLWPHQWWRXVLQJ science as a force for social good Like Ellen Swallow Richards, many scientists and engineers have quietly H[WHQGHGEH\RQGKHUZDWHUVWXGLHV helped break down barriers to full participation in the minerals, metals, and WRWRXFKDOPRVWHYHU\DVSHFWRIOLIH LQWKHV6KHLVFRQVLGHUHGWKH I=PANE=HOłAH@OPDNKQCDAT=ILHA=J@=?PEKJ1DA"HHAJ0S=HHKS/E?D=N@O IRXQGHURIKRPHHFRQRPLFVEDVHG Diversity Award, established by the TMS Board in 2013, intends to bring this RQKHUDGYRFDF\WRDSSO\VFLHQWL¿F important work to light so that others can learn and be inspired to do the SULQFLSOHVWRIRRGLQGRRUDLUTXDOLW\ same. Made possible through a generous donation to the TMS Foundation by VKHOWHUVDQLWDWLRQDQGRWKHUWRSLFV Jeffrey Wadsworth and his wife, Geraldine McCulley Wadsworth, the annual that directly affected families and their homes. =S=N@NA?KCJEVAO=JEJ@ERE@Q=HSDKNAŃA?PO/E?D=N@OOLEKJAANEJCOLENEPEJ +HUUHVHDUFKLQWRWKHLPSDFW overcoming adversity to pursue a career in minerals, metals, and/or materials of industrialized society on the or in helping others to overcome such challenges to pursue their careers. environment laid the groundwork “We believe it is vital to recognize that we are failing to achieve our IRUWKH¿HOGRIHFRORJ\²DWHUPWKDW potential in the minerals, metals, and materials community without full, she actually coined to describe the @ERANOA NALNAOAJP=PEKJ O=E@'ABBNAU4=@OSKNPD DEAB"TA?QPERA,Bł?AN LQWHUUHODWHGV\VWHPVRIQDWXUH$QG she used her skills as a chemist and and President, Battelle Memorial Institute, Inc. “One way to make the point talents as a communicator to reveal the that this is possible is to highlight the leaders and pioneers from the past, who SRWHQWLDO¿UHKD]DUGVRIPDQXIDFWXULQJ achieved it under conditions far more adverse than we face today.” SUDFWLFHVDVZHOODVKLGGHQWR[LQVLQ Wadsworth noted that both he and his wife, having had careers in science IDEULFZDOOSDSHUDQGJURFHU\VWDSOHV =J@AJCEJAANEJC ļK>OANRA@PDAH=?GKB@ERANOEPUEJKQNłAH@O =J@PDA 5LFKDUGV¶VVWDXQFKHVWVXSSRUWHU problems and biases that accompanied that situation. Conversely, the more WKURXJKRXWKHUPXOWLIDFHWHGFDUHHU diverse the participants are in a discussion, the more rich the discussion, and ZDVKHUKXVEDQG5REHUW5LFKDUGV )LJXUH KLPVHOIDQLQGXFWHHRIWKH PDA>APPANPDAKQP?KIA &POPD=POEILHA DAO=E@ 860LQLQJ+DOORI)DPHDQGRQHRI “In sponsoring the Ellen Swallow Richards Diversity Award, we are able WKH¿UVWSUHVLGHQWVRI$,0(7KH\KDG to make a personal commitment to advocate for values that we feel strongly met while she was an undergraduate about,” Wadsworth continued. “That is, to constantly be aware of the need DW0,7EXWEHLQJDSURIHVVRU5REHUW to provide opportunity to all. Through role models, we can emphasize how 5LFKDUGVZDVQRWSHUPLWWHGWR achievement is possible even in the face of adversity. We need to learn from FRXUWKHUVDLG3DPHOD6ZDOORZ+H SURSRVHGDVVRRQDVVKHJUDGXDWHG that and advance.” but she chose to hold off on the The inaugural Ellen Swallow Richards Award will be presented at the First ZHGGLQJIRUWZR\HDUVRXWRIFRQFHUQ TMS Summit on Creating and Sustaining Diversity in the Minerals, Metals, and WKDWVRFLDOH[SHFWDWLRQVZRXOGIRUFH Materials Professions in July. Nominations are now being accepted through KHUWRJLYHXSKHUZRUNDVDPDUULHG April 1 for the 2015 award presentation. Visit the TMS Professional Honors ZRPDQ5REHUW5LFKDUGV¶VLQWHQWLRQV and Awards website for information on IRUWXQDWHO\ZHUHWKDWWKH\ZRXOGEH SDUWQHUVLQZRUNDVZHOODVOLIH³+H nomination requirements at awards ZDQWHGWKHPWREHSLRQHHUVWRJHWKHU´ .tms.org or contact Deborah Price, TMS VDLG3DPHOD6ZDOORZ Awards and Recognition Specialist, at 5LFKDUGV¶VZRUNZLWKKHU [email protected]. husband focused on the chemistry 20 Ellen Swallow Richards: The Most Inﬂ uential Scientist You Probably Never Heard Of (Until Now)

“The well-educated young woman of 1950 will blend art and sciences in a way we do not dream of; the science will steady the art and the art will give charm to the science. This young woman will marry—yes, indeed—but she will take her pick of men, who will by that time have begun to realize what sort of men it behooves them to be.” —Ellen Swallow Richards, “The College Woman in 1950”

RIRUHDQDO\VLVDQGVKHIUHTXHQWO\ $UQROG3UHVLGHQW3UHS7HFK,QFDQG DFFRPSDQLHGKLPRQKLV¿HOG DSUHVHQWHURQ5LFKDUGV¶VLPSDFWRQ studies with students to mining H[WUDFWLYHPHWDOOXUJ\DWWKHXSFRPLQJ VLWHVWKURXJKRXWWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV 'LYHUVLW\6XPPLW)RUWKHVHDQG ,QVKHSXEOLVKHG³$1HZ other contributions to mining and 0HWKRGWR'HWHUPLQH1LFNHOLQ PLQHUDORJ\$,0(HOHFWHG5LFKDUGVDV Figure 4. “Robert Richards was 3\UUKRWLWHVDQG0DWWHV´ZKLFK LWV¿UVWIHPDOHPHPEHULQ extremely proud of his wife, and secured her recognition as a Fellow $UQROGLQWHQGVWKDW5LFKDUGVMRLQ constantly impressed by her of the American Association for KHUKXVEDQGLQWKH0LQLQJ+DOORI intelligence and capabilities,” $GYDQFHPHQWRI6FLHQFH³$SSO\LQJ )DPHDQGLVLQWKHSURFHVVRIXSGDWLQJ said Pamela Swallow. (Photo courtesy of Pamela Swallow, with WKLVPHWKRGWRRUHIURPWKH&DQDGLDQ WKHQRPLQDWLRQWKDW)UDQN$SODQ permission for use from the MIT &RSSHUFOLIIHORGHVKHNLFNHGRIIWKH 'LVWLQJXLVKHG3URIHVVRU(PHULWXV Archives.) QLFNHOLQGXVWU\DURXQG2QWDULRZLWK 3HQQ6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\KDG¿UVW KHUGHWHUPLQDWLRQRI¿YHSHUFHQW VXEPLWWHGLQ³6KHGLGQ¶WUHDOO\ WRHPSRZHURWKHUV%XW,WKLQNVKH QLFNHOLQWKHVDPSOH´VDLG%DUEDUD- ZDQWWKHOLPHOLJKW6KHDOZD\VWULHG would realize that today we need her DVDUROHPRGHO´VDLG$UQROG :KLOHZLGHVSUHDGUHFRJQLWLRQ HOXGHG5LFKDUGVLQOLIH )LJXUH 3DPHOD6ZDOORZLVKRSHIXOWKDW LQLWLDWLYHVVXFKDVWKH'LYHUVLW\ 6XPPLWDQGDZDUGHVWDEOLVKHGLQ her honor will introduce her to a new generation of female scientists DQGHQJLQHHUV³6KHPDGHLWFOHDU WKDWWKHUHZDVDSODFHIRUZRPHQLQ VFLHQFH´VKHVDLG³6KHZDVZLVHDQG FDUHIXOEXWVWRRGKHUJURXQGZKHQLW PDWWHUHGDQGZDVDEOHWRDFFRPSOLVK JUHDWWKLQJVE\KHUH[DPSOH (YHU\WKLQJVKHGLGZDVWLHGLQWRKHU NQRZOHGJHDQGSDVVLRQIRUVFLHQFH and her desire to make science DFFHVVLEOHWRDOO´

Lynne Robinson is the contributing editor to JOM. JOM also gives special acknowledgement to Pamela Swallow for the information, insights, and images that Figure 5. Richards at work in her ofﬁ ce at MIT. “When she passed away in she contributed to this article. Additional 1911, MIT held its ﬂ ags at half mast, and the men who carried her casket were information was obtained from former MIT presidents and trustees—many of them the same people who the MIT Institute Archives, argued against her being admitted as a student,” said Pamela Swallow. (Photo https://libraries.mit JO courtesy of Pamela Swallow, with permission for use from the MIT Archives.) .edu/archives. themagazine