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hollyd19 's review for:
A Lab of One's Own: One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science
by Sharon Bertsch McGrayne, Rita Colwell
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the gifted copy of this book!
In this memoir-manifesto, Rita Colwell covers the span of her experience as a scientist in the United States, tracing back to her childhood in the 1940s. She is a microbiologist with a powerful patchwork of other expertise and education that empowered her to be a creative, interdisciplinary researcher. She was the first female director of the National Science Foundation after decades of dedicated scholarship and coordinated affronts to the daily sexism in her industry.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as much as the blatant sexism made me furious. Even today, the fight is far from over, but thanks to Dr. Colwell and others, strides have been made. I was particularly enthralled by Dr. Colwell’s diplomacy, shrewdness, and organizing skill when talking women to make changes within the scientific world, particularly at academic institutions and in journals.
One part I did not expect but was glad to read about was Dr. Colwell’s direct impact on the study of cholera as well as sequencing the anthrax from the mail scare after 9/11. The latter in particular was a great addition, as it was an example of effective and unbiased collaboration — a refreshing example!
My only criticism has to do with her final chapter which consists of advice and ideas for additional growth (so very scientific of her — opportunities for future study!). Some of her thoughts around education rely on privilege and flexibility, e.g. picking an elementary school based on how they approach teaching science, starting computer science at or before high school, etc. I was hoping for some system-level suggestions around making exposure to lab-type science a more universal secondary school experience
In this memoir-manifesto, Rita Colwell covers the span of her experience as a scientist in the United States, tracing back to her childhood in the 1940s. She is a microbiologist with a powerful patchwork of other expertise and education that empowered her to be a creative, interdisciplinary researcher. She was the first female director of the National Science Foundation after decades of dedicated scholarship and coordinated affronts to the daily sexism in her industry.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as much as the blatant sexism made me furious. Even today, the fight is far from over, but thanks to Dr. Colwell and others, strides have been made. I was particularly enthralled by Dr. Colwell’s diplomacy, shrewdness, and organizing skill when talking women to make changes within the scientific world, particularly at academic institutions and in journals.
One part I did not expect but was glad to read about was Dr. Colwell’s direct impact on the study of cholera as well as sequencing the anthrax from the mail scare after 9/11. The latter in particular was a great addition, as it was an example of effective and unbiased collaboration — a refreshing example!
My only criticism has to do with her final chapter which consists of advice and ideas for additional growth (so very scientific of her — opportunities for future study!). Some of her thoughts around education rely on privilege and flexibility, e.g. picking an elementary school based on how they approach teaching science, starting computer science at or before high school, etc. I was hoping for some system-level suggestions around making exposure to lab-type science a more universal secondary school experience