On the Occasion of International Women's Day
Women Who Have the “WOW!” Factor
Each of these women has made groundbreaking contributions in their fields, changing the course of science, literature, and medicine in remarkable ways. They are extraordinary women with the “WOW!” factor.
South Korean writer Han Kang received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2024. She was the first Asian woman and the first Korean to receive this honor. The Swedish Academy selected her for her “intense poetic prose that addresses historical trauma and exposes the fragility of human life.”
Carolyn R. Bertozzi
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2022
Reason: Awarded for her development of bioorthogonal chemistry, a breakthrough that enabled the creation of new tools to study molecular interactions within cells and advance medical treatments, such as cancer research.
Andrea M. Ghez
Nobel Prize in Physics 2020
Reason: Awarded for her research on black holes. She contributed to the discovery of a supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way, using innovative methods in astrophysics.
Frances Arnold
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2018
Reason: Awarded for her work in the directed evolution of enzymes. This technique has allowed the creation of enzymes for more efficient processes in the pharmaceutical, energy, and biotechnology industries.
Claudia Goldin
Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences 2023
Reason: Recognized for her pioneering work on the gender wage gap and the underrepresentation of women in the workforce.
Louise Glück
Nobel Prize in Literature 2020
Reason: Awarded for her unmistakable poetic voice, which, with an economy of language and austere beauty, explores human existence and personal emotions, focusing on nature, pain, and isolation.
Jennifer A. Doudna
Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020
Reason: Recognized for her pioneering work in the development of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, a tool that has revolutionized molecular biology and opened new possibilities for medical research and gene therapy.
Carolyn W. Greider
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2009
Reason: Awarded for her discovery of telomeres and telomerase, an enzyme crucial for protecting chromosomes during cell division, which has had significant implications in cellular biology and aging.
Toni Morrison
Nobel Prize in Literature 2003
Reason: Morrison was awarded for her poetic force and visionary depth, which explored the Black experience in the United States through powerful narratives, as reflected in her novel Beloved, which addresses the history of slavery and its lasting effects.
