Archival Adventures - Episode 71: Herschel, Somerville, & Marcet Three 19th Century Women Scientists
Channel: VTLibraries
Date: 2022-07-18

This adventure takes us to the 18th and 19th centuries via our rare books collection as we learn about three women scientists: Caroline Herschel, Mary Somerville, and Jane Marcet.  

Caroline Lucretia Herschel was a German astronomer who discovered eight comets between 1786 and 1797. She was elected an Honorary Member of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1835 and is recognized to this day for her contributions to astronomy.  

Mary Somerville neé Fairfax was a Scottish scientist. She is known for her studies in mathematics and astronomy but was involved in many aspects of science. In 1835, she was recognized alongside Caroline Herschel as one of the first women named Honorary Member of the Royal Astronomical Society. In 2017, the Royal Bank of Scotland began issuing a £10 note featuring her likeness on the front.  

Jane Marcet neé Haldimand was an English scientist and science communicator. She is best known for her &#34;Conversations&#34; series designed to make the study and discussion of science accessible to the public at large, and primarily targeted at women. Her methods for communicating science to the public are some of the first examples of the type of informal science communication often seen online today.