Today is International Women's Day! A day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This date is celebrated worldwide and it's a chance to reflect on how women have changed the world we see.
But, March is also Women's History Month. So I wanted to combine the two. Therefore, I plan on writing four parts to this blog series. One for every week of March. I wanted to give some awareness to women who have contributed to STEM-based studies and achievement. I will be especially tailoring it towards women that have helped in chemistry seen as this year is also the international year of the periodic table.
I hope you enjoy.
Women in Chemistry
Stephanie Kwolek - The Discoverer of Kevlar (31st July 1923 - 18th June 2014)
Stephanie Kwolek (seen in the photo on the left) was an American chemist with Polish heritage. She was born in Pennsylvania and by the age of 10, Stephanie lost her father. This was, understandingly, a large moment in her life. She had spent many hours exploring the field and woods near her home with her dad. Left with only her mother, Stephanie developed an enjoyment for fabrics and sewing from her mum's job. She would find these skill helpful in later life... As Stephanie Kwolek is the discoverer of Kevlar
Kelvar is a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibre. It's used in bulletproof vests and helmets along with being the reinforcements for military vehicles due to the strength of this material. But, kevlar is also used in the production of sporting equipment because of kevlar's lightweight properties... But, kevlar had to be discovered before this could happen.
Stephanie Kwolek graduated from the Women's College of Carnegie Mellon University. After university, she did what most graduates do - apply for a job. Stephanie applied for a position as a chemist at the chemical company known as Dupoint. At Stephanie's job interview with W. Hale Charch - the person who made cellophane (and the research director), she was a memorable one. Needless to say - Stephanie got the job. Her career was based at Dupoint was 40 years long! Stephanie was involved in several projects at the company such as a search for new polymers along with a new condensing process which could take place at lower temperatures (between 0C to 40C).
Stephanie, with the company Dupoint, was searching for a synthetic material that could withstand extreme conditions. Unexpectedly, she found it. Stephanie discovered a fibre which had extraordinary strength and stiffness. It could be spun just from a solvent of dissolved polyamines. This material was 5x stronger than steel and lightweight. This new material also didn't rust or corrode.
When Stephanie patented the new material, her company Dupoint named it Kevlar.
Stephanie Kwolek's discovery, kevlar, has gone onto be integrated everywhere. It has been the body armour for police, protected undersea optical-fibre cables, used to suspend bridges as well as countless applications in sport and frying pans. In 1994, Stephanie Kwolek was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of fame. She is one of only four women to grace that accomplishment among 113 members.
Dr Frances Oldham Kelsey (with Dr Helen Taussig) - Thalidomide - (24th July 1914 - 7th Aug 2014)
Dr Frances Kelsey was an ordinary female physician in America in the 1960s who became a national heroine. It was 1960 and Dr Frances Kelsey had finished her education. She had graduated from high school. Then graduated from McGill University with a B.Sc (Bachelors of science) and an M.Sc (Masters of Science) in the same field - Pharmacology. Not finished then, to be Dr Frances Oldham Kelsey then applied for a graduate position at the University of Chicago. She only got accepted because of her name - Francis. The researcher, EMK Geiling mistook her name for a male's name. But anyway, in 1938, Francis Kelsey earned her PhD. Then twelve years later, Dr Frances Kelsey.got her MD.
After that, she was hired by the FDA - the U.S Food and Drinks Administration. In her first month of work, Dr Kelsey took a bold stance. She was assigned to review a drug application. Everyone around her thought the review was an easy decision to make. The drug in question was thalidomide.
Thalidomide was a drug which was developed in West Germany. It was an excellent sedative and painkiller which was used commonly as a sleeping drug. The drug seemed to be safe in the 1960s with very little side effect occurring in the adults which were taking the drug. Thalidomide was typically used to stop nausea along with other symptoms which were mixed in with morning sickness. Something which pregnant women get affected with. It was widely sold in Europe.
Dr Frances Kelsey's task was meant to be straight forward as it was just a sleeping pill which was selling well in Europe. But, Dr Kelsey was concerned with some data around Thalidomide. It was suggestive that there were side effects for patients, pregnant people, who took the drug repeatedly. So Dr Kelsey withheld the approvement. She asked for more data on the drug - especially for the strength, purity and toxicity of Thalidomide.
But, the manifacturers (Merrell) weren't happy. They were trying everything they could to get around Dr Frances Kelsey's decision. Merrell stood to make millions from the American market and they wanted to get moving on with it. There were tons of Thalimide in warehouses and 1000 American doctors had been given Thalimide for 'investigative' research (Source). So the company did provide more information. But, they also had a large campaign to pressurise Dr Kelsey - letters, calls and visits from Merrell's executives ensured. She was called fussy, stubborn and an unreasonable bureaucrat.
Then in November of 1961 reports were flooding out of Germany and the United Kingdom. Mothers who had taken thalidomide during their pregnacy were having babies with serious birth defects. At least 4000 children had been affected. Merrell withdrew their application. A fellow doctor, Dr Helen Taussig had learned of the developments from one of her students. The student had returned from their investigational trip of Europe. Dr Taussig testified about thalidomide to the senate. With that testimony, Dr Helen Taussig had helped Dr Kelsey ban Thalidomide from America for good.
The samples of Thalidomide which had been given to the doctors were traced. The total number of children affect in the US was 17.
For her efforts, President John F Kennedy awarded Dr Frances Oldham Kelsey with the highest honour which a civillian can recieved - The President's Award for Distingushed Federal Civillian Service. It was done on the 7th August 1962 and she was the second female to ever recieve the award.
In President Kennedy's words; Her exceptional judgement in evaluating a new drug for safety for human use has prevented a major tragedy of birth deformaties in the United States. Through high ability and steadfast confidence in her professional decision, she has made an outstanding contribution to the protection of the health of the American people (Source)
Dr Kelsey helped to shape as well as enforce some amendments to the FDA's drug regulation laws to instutionlise the protection of the patient in drug investiations. These regulations required that the drugs were safe along as being effective as the treatment. The other regulations were to make sure that informed consent has be taken before patents are involved in any drug trials and for any adverse effects of any drug to be reported to the FDA.
Dr Kelsey was awarded with more honours and awards. In 1995, Mill Bay - a town of British Columbria, honoured her by naming a secondary school after her. Five years later (2000), Dr Kelsey was inducted into the National Women's Hall of fame - following ladies like Helen Keller and Eleanor Rooevelt. Then in 2001, Dr Kelsey became a Virtual Mentor for the American Medican Assocation.
Why did Thalidomide do this?
Researchers found that Thalidomide could cross the placenta barrier. It was that which caused the birth deformities because the baby's drug enzymes are not developed.
But, March is also Women's History Month. So I wanted to combine the two. Therefore, I plan on writing four parts to this blog series. One for every week of March. I wanted to give some awareness to women who have contributed to STEM-based studies and achievement. I will be especially tailoring it towards women that have helped in chemistry seen as this year is also the international year of the periodic table.
I hope you enjoy.
Women in Chemistry
Stephanie Kwolek - The Discoverer of Kevlar (31st July 1923 - 18th June 2014)
 |
| Photo Credit: Science History Institute |
Kelvar is a heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibre. It's used in bulletproof vests and helmets along with being the reinforcements for military vehicles due to the strength of this material. But, kevlar is also used in the production of sporting equipment because of kevlar's lightweight properties... But, kevlar had to be discovered before this could happen.
Stephanie Kwolek graduated from the Women's College of Carnegie Mellon University. After university, she did what most graduates do - apply for a job. Stephanie applied for a position as a chemist at the chemical company known as Dupoint. At Stephanie's job interview with W. Hale Charch - the person who made cellophane (and the research director), she was a memorable one. Needless to say - Stephanie got the job. Her career was based at Dupoint was 40 years long! Stephanie was involved in several projects at the company such as a search for new polymers along with a new condensing process which could take place at lower temperatures (between 0C to 40C).
 |
This is kevlar's molecular structure.
As you can see, there is a repeating pattern - that's what a
polyamine is.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
|
When Stephanie patented the new material, her company Dupoint named it Kevlar.
Stephanie Kwolek's discovery, kevlar, has gone onto be integrated everywhere. It has been the body armour for police, protected undersea optical-fibre cables, used to suspend bridges as well as countless applications in sport and frying pans. In 1994, Stephanie Kwolek was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of fame. She is one of only four women to grace that accomplishment among 113 members.
 |
| Photo Credit: WIkipedia |
Dr Frances Kelsey was an ordinary female physician in America in the 1960s who became a national heroine. It was 1960 and Dr Frances Kelsey had finished her education. She had graduated from high school. Then graduated from McGill University with a B.Sc (Bachelors of science) and an M.Sc (Masters of Science) in the same field - Pharmacology. Not finished then, to be Dr Frances Oldham Kelsey then applied for a graduate position at the University of Chicago. She only got accepted because of her name - Francis. The researcher, EMK Geiling mistook her name for a male's name. But anyway, in 1938, Francis Kelsey earned her PhD. Then twelve years later, Dr Frances Kelsey.got her MD.
After that, she was hired by the FDA - the U.S Food and Drinks Administration. In her first month of work, Dr Kelsey took a bold stance. She was assigned to review a drug application. Everyone around her thought the review was an easy decision to make. The drug in question was thalidomide.
Thalidomide was a drug which was developed in West Germany. It was an excellent sedative and painkiller which was used commonly as a sleeping drug. The drug seemed to be safe in the 1960s with very little side effect occurring in the adults which were taking the drug. Thalidomide was typically used to stop nausea along with other symptoms which were mixed in with morning sickness. Something which pregnant women get affected with. It was widely sold in Europe.
 |
This is one of the two the structual form of Thalidomide.
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
|
But, the manifacturers (Merrell) weren't happy. They were trying everything they could to get around Dr Frances Kelsey's decision. Merrell stood to make millions from the American market and they wanted to get moving on with it. There were tons of Thalimide in warehouses and 1000 American doctors had been given Thalimide for 'investigative' research (Source). So the company did provide more information. But, they also had a large campaign to pressurise Dr Kelsey - letters, calls and visits from Merrell's executives ensured. She was called fussy, stubborn and an unreasonable bureaucrat.
Then in November of 1961 reports were flooding out of Germany and the United Kingdom. Mothers who had taken thalidomide during their pregnacy were having babies with serious birth defects. At least 4000 children had been affected. Merrell withdrew their application. A fellow doctor, Dr Helen Taussig had learned of the developments from one of her students. The student had returned from their investigational trip of Europe. Dr Taussig testified about thalidomide to the senate. With that testimony, Dr Helen Taussig had helped Dr Kelsey ban Thalidomide from America for good.
The samples of Thalidomide which had been given to the doctors were traced. The total number of children affect in the US was 17.
 |
Dr Kelsey with her Distingushed Federal Civillian
Service
Photo Credit: Fineartamerica
|
In President Kennedy's words; Her exceptional judgement in evaluating a new drug for safety for human use has prevented a major tragedy of birth deformaties in the United States. Through high ability and steadfast confidence in her professional decision, she has made an outstanding contribution to the protection of the health of the American people (Source)
Dr Kelsey helped to shape as well as enforce some amendments to the FDA's drug regulation laws to instutionlise the protection of the patient in drug investiations. These regulations required that the drugs were safe along as being effective as the treatment. The other regulations were to make sure that informed consent has be taken before patents are involved in any drug trials and for any adverse effects of any drug to be reported to the FDA.
Dr Kelsey was awarded with more honours and awards. In 1995, Mill Bay - a town of British Columbria, honoured her by naming a secondary school after her. Five years later (2000), Dr Kelsey was inducted into the National Women's Hall of fame - following ladies like Helen Keller and Eleanor Rooevelt. Then in 2001, Dr Kelsey became a Virtual Mentor for the American Medican Assocation.
Why did Thalidomide do this?
Researchers found that Thalidomide could cross the placenta barrier. It was that which caused the birth deformities because the baby's drug enzymes are not developed.
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