WOMEN IN CONSERVATION

            Ruth Myrtle Patrick was a botanist, limnoligist, and freshwater ecologist and lived to be 105 years old. In 1934, she began her 80-year long association with the Academy of Natural Sciences. She was told she would not be paid, despite her male colleagues all receiving salaries, and would not be paid until after 7 years. In addition to this sexism, she was also told she was not allowed to wear lipstick to work. In 1973, she became the first female chair of the academy’s board of trustees. She was a pioneer in addressing pollution and climate change and her work led to the 1972 Clean Water Act. Her biggest contribution was identifying the significance of the diatom, single-celled organism that inhabit water, and inventing the diatometer, which is used to measure water quality. She worked 5 days a week until the age of 97 and would still come to her office to write up until she was 100 years old (Zauzmer).