Rebels, Scholars, Explorers

Women in Vertebrate Paleontology

Annalisa Berta, Susan Turner

• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Year: 2020
• eBook ISBN: 9781421439716
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Historical Biographies

Unearthing the amazing hidden stories of women who changed paleontology forever.

For centuries, women have played key roles in defining and developing the field of vertebrate paleontology. Yet very little is known about these important paleontologists, and the true impacts of their contributions have remained obscure. In Rebels, Scholars, Explorers, Annalisa Berta and Susan Turner celebrate the history of women "bone hunters, " delving into their fascinating lives and work. At the same time, they explore how the discipline has shaped our understanding of the history of life on Earth.

Berta and Turner begin by presenting readers with a review of the emergence of vertebrate paleontology as a science, emphasizing the contributions of women to research topics and employment. This is followed by brief biographical sketches and explanations of early discoveries by women around the world over the past 200 years, including those who who held roles as researchers, educators, curators, artists, and preparators. Forging new territory, Berta and Turner highlight the barriers and challenges faced by women paleontologists, describing how some managed to overcome those obstacles in order to build careers in the field. Finally, drawing on interviews with a diverse group of contemporary paleontologists, who share their experiences and offer recommendations to aspiring fossil hunters, they provide perspectives on what work still needs to be done in order to ensure that women's contributions to the field are encouraged and celebrated.

Uncovering and relating lost stories about the pivotal contributions of women in vertebrate paleontology doesn't just make for enthralling storytelling, but also helps ensure a richer and more diverse future for this vibrant field. Illuminating the discoveries, collections, and studies of fossil vertebrates conducted by women in vertebrate paleontology, Rebels, Scholars, Explorers will be on every paleontologist's most-wanted list and should find a broader audience in the burgeoning sector of readers from all backgrounds eager to learn about women in the sciences.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• One: Introduction / History of vertebrate paleontology as a science
• Two: Early Discoveries and Collection of Fossil Vertebrates, 18th to Mid-19th Century / Early discoveries and recognition of fossil vertebrates
• Three: Women in Vertebrate Paleontology, Late 19th to Early 20th Century / Taking their place in the professional world
• Four: Women in the Early Modern Years of Vertebrate Paleontology, Mid-20th Century (1940–1975) / Gaining ground and the beginnings of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
• Five: Women in Vertebrate Paleontology, Late 20th to Early 21st Century (1976 to the Present) / Coming of age
• Plates
• Six: Artists, Preparators, Technicians, Collections Managers, and Outreach Educators: Behind the scenes / Behind the scenes: “Invisible” but essential women
• Seven: Challenges and Opportunities / Women in STEM, geosciences, and paleontology
• Appendixes
• Abbreviations
• Literature Cited
• Bibliographic Sources and Further Reading
• Index