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I Love Science

Rachel Carson


Marine biologist and nature writer Rachel Carson was born this day in 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania. She was the youngest of three children and became a published writer for children’s magazines by age 10.

She attended the Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham University); graduating manga cum laude in 1929. She next studied at the oceanographic institute at Woods Hole, Massachusetts and at Johns Hopkins University, where she received a master’s degree in zoology in 1932. Strained family finances forced her to forego pursuit of a doctorate and help support her mother and, later, two orphaned nieces.

In 1936, Carson became the second woman hired by the US Bureau of Fisheries. She remained there for 15 years, writing brochures and other materials for the public. She was promoted to Editor-in-Chief of all publications for the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

She wrote several popular books about aquatic life, among them Under the Sea Wind (1941) and The Sea Around Us (1951). She won a National Book Award, a national science writing-prize and a Guggenheim grant. In 1955, she published The Edge of the Sea, another popular seller.

Carson moved to Silver Spring Maryland in 1957 to care for her aging mother. A letter from a friend about the loss of bird life after pesticide spraying inspired Carson to write Silent Spring in 1962. The book primarily focuses on pesticides' effects on ecosystems, but also details their impact on humans; including cancer. She also accused the chemical industry of spreading misinformation and public officials of accepting industry claims uncritically.

Chemical companies sought to discredit her as a Communist or hysterical woman. Many pulled their ads from the CBS Reports TV special. Still, roughly 15 million viewers tuned in, and that, combined with President John F. Kennedy’s Science Advisory Committee Report—which validated Carson’s research—made pesticides a major public issue. Carson received medals from the National Audubon Society and the American Geographical Society, and induction into the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Seriously ill with breast cancer, Carson died in 1964 - two years after her book’s publication. In 1980, she was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her homes are considered national historic landmarks, and various awards bear her name.
pennynoodles · 56-60, F
An amazing story and I didn't have any trouble seeing the photo. Thanks for sharing .
sciguy18 · M
@pennynoodles The story was since “cleared” by admin; so you were able to view it sans warnings. As always, thanks for reading and commenting.
diablesse · 56-60, F
Very inspirational. Thank you for sharing Sciguy.
sciguy18 · M
@diablesse Thanks for reading and commenting.

 
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