Publisher's Synopsis
While much has been written about barriers to women in science, very little work celebrates the wisdom and insights of the women who have risen to the top of their chosen scientific profession. In this remarkable book, the author gathers the personal stories of the select few women scientists who have achieved the honor of election to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. Including several Nobel laureates, the group is elite - yet their career profiles and personal interviews have much to say to everyone struggling to overcome obstacles. From their passionate love of research to their struggle to balance the demands of home and career, these women share a great deal. At the same time, these intimate portraits offer widely different insights about how being female has affected their careers. In these chapters, readers will discover the importance of such factors as persistence, good mentoring, talent, and plain luck. Often, there is a critical moment at which, but for a serendipitous event, even these dedicated women could easily have been diverted from their career paths.;"The Door in the Dream" offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of these inspiring women, providing readers the opportunity to benefit from their personal insights and anecdotes. In an informal and engaging manner, the author provides a fascinating window into the changing status and representation of women in science in the 20th century. Among the eminent women interviewed: Mary Ellen Avery; May R. Berenbaum; Mary K. Gaillard; Margaret Kidwell; Judith P. Klinman; Nancy Kopell; Marian Koshland; Jane Lubchenco; Pamela Matson; Cathleen Morawetz; Myriam Sarachik; Joan Steitz; and Susan Taylor. This book will be helpful to anyone concerned about women: educators, employers, university administrators, career counselors, scholarship funders, scientific professional groups, established women scientists, and - perhaps most important - young women aspiring to a science career, their parents, and their advisors.
