Unsung Heroes: Women Who Changed The World
5 Female Inventors Who Made Modern Life Possible
It is an irrevocable fact that plastic has allowed for a remarkable number of innovations and creations that completely transformed modern life. The cars we drive and planes we fly in, the laptops and phones we rely on for modern communication, even pacemakers, hearing aids, and glasses… are all inventions made possible by the material.
But a less-known factor is the number of extraordinary women who invented some of these groundbreaking innovations which remoulded the world. So for International Women’s Day 2024, we want to shine a light on just a few of the women who made modern life possible:
- Stephanie Kwolek – Inventor of Kevlar
- Katharine Burr Blodgett – Inventor of Nonreflective Glass
- Bessie Virginia Blount – Inventor of the Feeding Tube
- Mary Elizabeth Anderson - Inventor of the Windshield Wipe
- Letitia Mumford Geer – Inventor Of the Medical Syringe
Courtesy of DuPont.com
Stephanie Kwolek, a pioneering Polish-American chemist, revolutionized the world of materials science with her invention of Kevlar in 1965 – an invention which has saved an immeasurably large number of lives.
After receiving her bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1946, Kwolek was looking for a short-term job to help her raise money for her goal of attending medical school, and subsequently went to work as a laboratory chemist at the rayon department of the DuPont Company in New York. But while saving, Kwolek became fascinated by polymer chemistry and decided to forgo her medical-school dreams and focus on research. [2]
It was during this time that Kwolek found herself fascinated with the possibilities of poly(p-benzamide) and poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) - fibres which, thanks to her work, were released commercially in 1971 with the trade name Kevlar. Kevlar's exceptional strength, lightweight nature, and resistance to heat, made it an invaluable material for various applications, most importantly in bulletproof vests, tires, fireproof uniforms, and aerospace components – and the material is used now in over 200 applications [1,2].
Kwolek's groundbreaking invention has not only saved countless lives, but also opened doors for further advancements in polymer science. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers, demonstrating the transformative power of innovation.
Courtesy of the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge
Many things became clearer in the 1930s when Katharine Blodgett - a pioneering physicist and inventor from Schenectady, New York - made a lasting impact on the field of optics with her invention of anti-reflective glass in 1938.
In 1933 Blodgett and Irving Langmuir began work on surface films. Noticing that even the clearest glass reflected over 10% of incident light (and was thus difficult to see through), Blodgett developed a way to transfer soap film from a water surface to a solid surface, including glass. Using her control over the thickness of the films, Blodgett found a coating of the perfect thickness to cancel out most reflections [3].
The discovery was announced in December 1938, immediately gaining a lot of attention - in part likely due to the fact that she was a woman in science which was still mostly unheard of at the time. Her original soap coatings lead to the development of more-durable coatings which, alongside improved methods of production, enabled the clarity of optical devices such as lenses, microscopes, and camera filters, as well as enhancing the performance of everyday items like eyeglasses, automobile windshields, and computer/phone screens. [3]
"Katharine Blodgett's life and work serve as a testament to the profound impact of persistent dedication and innovation, regardless of gender barriers." - University Of Cambridge [4]
Blodgett's innovative approach to surface chemistry revolutionized multiple industries, making her a trailblazer in materials science and a source of inspiration for future generations of inventors… talk about breaking the glass ceiling.
Bessie Blount, a remarkable inventor and physical therapist born in Virginia 1914, left an indelible mark on the medical field with her invention of the feeding tube.
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| Courtesy of the New Journal and Guide, Norfolk, VA |
Beginning her education at a one-room segregated primary school in Hickory, built by the black community to educate the children of former slaves, Blount was not handed a life of creativity and boundless innovation on a plate.
But after her father died during World War 1, Blount and her mother moved to New Jersey where she eventually became a licensed physiotherapist at Bronx Hospital. As so many of her patients were injured World War II veterans and amputees, she turned her focus to finding an apparatus which would allow the wounded to feed themselves. [8]
Blount spent nearly a year working through the night to develop her first design, using her kitchen as a workspace, and plastic, a file, ice pick, hammer, and boiling water to create her prototype. After another four years of perfecting it, Blount created a working model of her feeding device – which received a standing ovation at its first demonstration in the hospital. [7,8]
The device allowed individuals to feed themselves independently - by biting down on a tube which activated a motor to dispense a small amount of food into the patients mouth. Her invention, which utilized a combination of plastic tubing and a valve system, not only provided a practical solution for those with disabilities, but also restored a sense of dignity and autonomy.
Though this may be Blount’s most notable invention, she continued to innovate - creating a medical basin which paved the way for the ones used today. She then found interest in a new field of study-forensic science, worked in law enforcement, and later became the first African-American woman to be invited to train in Scotland Yard.
An icon in her own right, Blount’s innovative spirit and dedication to improving the lives of others continue to inspire advancements in assistive technology and healthcare today.
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It’s hard to believe there was a time where rain on a windshield while driving was unavoidable and demanded regularly pulling over to get out of the vehicle and manually wipe the screen… but until 1903 that’s exactly what was happening – until Mary Anderson. [9]
While visiting New York City in a trolley car on a snowy day, Anderson noticed that she (and all other streetcar drivers) struggled to see through their windows due to the accumulation of snow and rain, with most poking their heads outside of the window while driving and using one hand to wipe the screen. It was from this trip that she conceived her idea of a windshield wiper blade.
Anderson envisioned a device that would attach to the outside of the car, with a long spring-loaded arm and a rubber blade which the driver could operate using a handle from inside the vehicle. An undeniably brilliant idea, Anderson applied for and was awarded a patent for her rubber blade idea in 1903. It quickly proved to be the first effective windscreen clearing product ever created. [10]
As driving then became more and more common, the windshield wiper was eventually adapted for automotive use, and in 1922, Cadillac was the first to begin installing a wiper as standard equipment on its vehicles. [11]
Over 120 years later, imagining what drivers would do without windshield wipers seems impossible – and it doesn’t feel dubious to assume her invention is part of what lead to vehicular transport becoming so wide-spread. Mary Anderson's ingenious invention revolutionised automotive safety and convenience, undoubtably saving an incredible amount of lives and affirming herself as an entrepreneur and inspiration to us all.
Courtesy of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Letitia Mumford Geer, an American inventor and nurse, made significant strides in medical innovation with her invention of the one-handed medical syringe.
Syringes had already been around for a surprisingly long time when Geer became a nurse in the 1870s, but still wouldn’t have looked like the ones we know and use today – and Geer saw room for improvement.
Geer came up with an improved design that was unique from any syringes that had come before, with a focus on making the tool easier to grip and use in the most awkward of positions, as well as ensuring her design could be made at a low-cost to be widely accessible. Essentially, she created the first syringe that could be used with one hand, which had one big implication… people could use it on themselves. This is now of course a remarkable convenience to those receiving long-term care who can administer safe injections from home. The invention paved the way for Colin Albert Murdoch to later invent the first plastic syringe that, with the ability to be disposed after each use, then allowed for a significant reduction in infections and disease. [5]
"Though she was one of several inventors who contributed to the modern syringe design, her name is often left out of accounts of its history." - Michele Debczak [5].
Geer’s invention greatly improved the accuracy and safety of injections, laying the foundation for modern medical practices. This contribution to healthcare not only saved countless lives, but also paved the way for further advancements in medical technology.
In celebrating the remarkable contributions of female inventors to the world of plastics, it becomes evident that their innovations have not only shaped this industry but also transformed daily life. These women demonstrated unparalleled creativity, resilience, and ingenuity. Their pioneering spirit serves as a beacon of inspiration for future generations of inventors, reminding us of the invaluable impact that diverse perspectives and voices bring to the realm of innovation. As we honour their legacies, let us continue to champion inclusivity and support the advancement of all individuals in the pursuit of groundbreaking discoveries and solutions.
Learn more about International Womens Day 2024: click here.
References
- https://www.sciencehistory.org/education/scientific-biographies/stephanie-l-kwolek/
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stephanie-Kwolek
- https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/200703/history.cfm
- https://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/blog/invisible-glass-legacy-katharine-burr-blodgett
- https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/letitia-mumford-geer-inventor-one-handed-syringe
- https://patents.google.com/patent/US622848A/en
- https://edu.lva.virginia.gov/changemakers/items/show/169
- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/obituaries/bessie-blount-overlooked.html
- https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/mary-anderson
- https://amazingwomeninhistory.com/mary-anderson-inventor/
- https://www.invent.org/inductees/mary-anderson
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