Daring to Dig: Women in American Paleontology

Science is a human endeavor. As a result, the history of science is punctuated by stories of human triumph at its greatest, and stories of ignorance and repression at its worst. The stories found within the careers of women paleontologists throughout the history of the discipline contain both.

American women have long shaped our understanding of the history of life on Earth, from the detailed illustrations of Orra White Hitchcock to the innovative ideas of Esther Applin. Yet many women were discouraged from careers in paleontology and their work was often dismissed or ignored. Even after the idea of women pursuing higher education and careers was considered socially acceptable, women were frequently discouraged from entering science in general, and the Earth sciences in particular. Even today, women comprise only 23% of the membership of the Paleontological Society, the leading US professional organization in the field.

PRI has been at the forefront of paleontological discovery since its founding in 1932, and also has ties with many leading women paleontologists of the past. PRI’s founder, Gilbert Harris, was a professor of geology at Cornell University for 40 years, and for decades was the only member of his department who would accept women as graduate students. He advised a number of women who went on to significant careers in paleontology, in the US and abroad, including Katherine Palmer, Carlotta Maury, Pearl Sheldon, and Lois Schoonover. In celebration of women’s contributions to paleontology, PRI has undertaken the Daring to Dig: Women in American Paleontology project.

The project includes three components: a website with biographies of women in American paleontology, a graphic-novel style book for children, and a special exhibit at the Museum of the Earth planned for fall 2020.

The book for children (target ages 8-12) is titled Daring to Dig: Adventures of Women in American Paleontology, authored by Beth Stricker and illustrated by Alana McGillis. Women have played a critical role in the development of the science of paleontology in America, but for many years their accomplishments have been overshadowed by those of men. Daring to Dig highlights the adventures and research achievements of a dozen women paleontologists, both from the past century and active today. The challenges they faced—both societal and scientific—are explored through a series of colorfully illustrated vignettes, as are their successes in overcoming these challenges. This book shows children that paleontology is a science for everyone, and also introduces them to a variety of ancient organisms that are commonly missing from children's books about prehistoric life. Daring to Dig concludes with brief biographical sketches of each of the twelve women featured in the book, as well as a glossary of scientific terms. The ISBN number for Daring to Dig is: 978-0-87710-521-3; its retail price is $19.95. Daring to Dig may be ordered directly from PRI or through Amazon; for questions about ordering, please email [email protected].