Ellen Swallow Richards

 Ellen Swallow Richards, born on this day in 1842, was the first woman to graduate from MIT and later became its first female instructor. She is recognized as the creator of the fields of ecology and home economics (which she taught as a way to expose young girls to the properties of chemistry and engineering in a socially acceptable way). MIT's president countered concerns that she was too frail to teach such a serious subject by saying: "Yes, but did you see her eyes? She will not fail."

(Image courtesy of the MIT Museum, Richards is pictured with the rest of the MIT Chemistry Department)

Ellen Swallow Richards, environmentalist and chemist

  

National Women's History Museum 

Ellen Swallow Richards was one of the first female environmentalists and chemists in the United States. She introduced the term ecology to the country in 1892. She was home schooled by her parents and then attended Vassar College, where she became interested in chemistry. Richards found environmental issues caused by urbanization particularly interesting. In 1871, she became the first woman to be admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a second degree. However, she was not allowed to get a graduated degree, because she was a woman. In 1884, Richards was appointed as the first instructor of MIT’s new laboratory of sanitary chemistry, it was also the first lab of its kind in the country. Richards co-authored Air, Water, and Food from a Sanitary Standpoint, published in 1900, which became a classic in the field of sanitary engineering. Richard also helped to create the field of home economics, which focused on applying scientific principles to domestic topics. #womenshistory #WomeninSTEM

Ellen Swallow Richards: environmentalist and chemist

 

National Women's History Museum 

Ellen Swallow Richards was one of the first female environmentalists and chemists in the United States. She introduced the term ecology to the country in 1892. She was home schooled by her parents and then attended Vassar College, where she became interested in chemistry. Richards found environmental issues caused by urbanization particularly interesting. In 1871, she became the first woman to be admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a second degree. However, she was not allowed to get a graduated degree, because she was a woman. In 1884, Richards was appointed as the first instructor of MIT’s new laboratory of sanitary chemistry, it was also the first lab of its kind in the country. Richards co-authored Air, Water, and Food from a Sanitary Standpoint, published in 1900, which became a classic in the field of sanitary engineering. Richard also helped to create the field of home economics, which focused on applying scientific principles to domestic topics. #womenshistory #WomeninSTEM