Lost Women of Science

Lost Women of Science Conversations: The Exceptions

Jul 11, 2024

Dr. Nancy Hopkins, a renowned molecular biologist, shares her journey of fighting for gender equality in science at MIT. She exposes discrimination through data collection and activism, leading to pivotal change. The podcast highlights the challenges faced by women in science and the impact of advocacy and solidarity in empowering female scientists.

34:59

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Nancy Hopkins

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Quick takeaways

Systemic bias in academia hinders women's progress despite significant contributions.

Collective efforts expose and combat 21st-century discrimination, leading to impactful change in gender equality discussions.

Deep dives

Nancy Hopkins' Fight for Gender Equity in Science

Nancy Hopkins, a molecular biologist, encountered discrimination in her career despite significant contributions to science. Facing obstacles like being excluded from meetings and denied funding opportunities, she initiated a fight for gender equity for female faculty members at MIT. Her determination led to a landmark report documenting widespread discrimination. With the support of other female faculty members, they gathered data and illuminated the subtle bias faced by women in academic science.

Intro

2min

The Inspirational Journey of Nancy Hopkins and Reflections on Science

8min

Challenges and Activism in Science

8min

Exploring a Different Form of Discrimination Through Scientific Advocacy

3min

Empowering Women in Science: The Impact of Solidarity and Advocacy

14min

Challenges of Women in the Field and Recognizing Their Impact

3min

Dr. Nancy Hopkins, a molecular biologist who made major discoveries in cancer genetics, became an unlikely activist in her early fifties. She had always believed that if you did great science, you would get the recognition you deserved. But after years of humiliations — being snubbed for promotions and realizing the women's labs were smaller than those of their male counterparts — she finally woke up to the fact that her beloved MIT did not value women scientists. So measuring tape in hand, she collected the data to prove her point. In The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science, Kate Zernike tells Nancy's story, which led to MIT’s historic admission of discrimination against its female scientists in 1999. Host Julianna LeMieux talks with Kate and Nancy about the journey.

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