February 11 is the day set apart by the United Nations for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. To learn more, click here and watch this video about the experiences of nuclear scientists from around the world.
And for your collections, here are some notable titles by women and/or focusing on the achievements of women in the sciences.
The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another by Ainissa Ramirez
This title, winner of the 2021 AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books for Young Adults, is also on the 2019 Outstanding Books for the College Bound Science list. This blurb from the publisher helps explain why this book is a must for today’s teen collections:
Filling in the gaps left by other books about technology, Ramirez showcases little-known inventors—particularly people of color and women—who had a significant impact but whose accomplishments have been hidden by mythmaking, bias, and convention. Doing so, she shows us the power of telling inclusive stories about technology.
This engaging memoir chronicles Jahren’s path from curious child to geobiologist employing narrative storytelling and a healthy dose of humor as she navigates the limited and sometimes discriminatory world of the sciences. Along the way, she inspires readers to see themselves as scientists, too, always celebrating the inquisitive and curious minds of her readers.
The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here by Hope Jahren
Jahren’s follow-up book is less personal and more instructive, and it would make a great companion text for students taking biology, ecology, or environmental science. It breaks down this complex problem into smaller, manageable components and is a great book for anyone just beginning to engage the climate crisis.
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert
A Pulitzer Prize winner, this title is also included on the 2019 Outstanding Books for the College Bound, and with its deep research and accessible tone, it will help make sense of the changes already wrought and those likely to come as we grapple with our impact on the earth.
Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener
This memoir tracks the authors experience in the male-dominated tech industry in Silicon Valley. Though it demonstrates the field as it begins to grapple with its exclusive and discriminatory practices, it offers young women a glimpse into a world that is increasingly open to them.
Changing the Equation: 50+ US Black Women in STEM by Tonya Bolden
In this colorful and engaging collection, Bolden highlights the too-often-overlooked achievements of Black Women in STEM. These women overcame countless challenges to advance the field of science for the betterment of all.