Peggy Whitson was the first female science officer aboard the International Space Station, where she conducted research on crop growth, cancer treatments, and fluid dynamics to help future space exploration. Marie Tharp was the first scientist to map the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, proving the theory of plate tectonics, though her male partner initially dismissed her work. Wanda Diaz-Merced developed software to translate astronomical data into sound waves, making astrophysics accessible to the blind and visually impaired. Quarraisha Abdool Karim has spent over 25 years researching HIV/AIDS in South Africa, including studies showing higher risks for women and correlations with migration.

1. From: 100 Women:Seventrailblazingwomenin science, 6 Nov2017
BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41861232
Extra infoonAbdool KarimfromWikipedia.
Peggy Whitson: First science officer aboard the
International Space Station
When Peggy Whitson was in her senior year of high school, Nasa selected its first
female astronauts. The dream that had begun watching the Moon landings suddenly
seemed like a reality - Peggy was going to be an astronaut too.
Growing up in a rural farm community in Iowa, she wasn't exactly sure what that
would involve, but she pursued her love of biology and chemistry to gain a PhD.
Scientists remain a minority in the astronaut corps, with many coming from a military
background, but in 1996 Peggy was selected as an astronaut candidate.
During her first flight to the International Space Station in 2002, Peggy was named
the first science officer aboard the ISS. There was, she says a "cool factor" in sharing
this job title with Star Trek's Mr Spock.
As a scientist, the ISS gives Peggy a unique research environment that doesn't exist
anywhere else. Aboard the space station she has worked on experiments to grow
crops, investigate potential cancer treatments and experiment with fluid dynamics.
"I really love all the diversity of research we're doing in space [and it] will help us I
think in the future, when we really get out and explore distant places," she told 100
Women.
"Within our solar system and even beyond that."
Marie Tharp: Mapping the ocean floor
In 1953, Marie Tharp became the first scientist to map the floor of the Atlantic Ocean.
A geologist and oceanographic cartographer, Tharp's discovery of a rift valley
running down the centre of the ocean floor was revolutionary in proving the
controversial theory of plate tectonics. Initially, her discovery was dismissed as "girl
talk" by her research partner Bruce Heezen.
As women were not allowed on research vessels, Tharp would painstakingly draw
maps from data that Heezen brought back from expeditions.
Despite her groundbreaking contributions, Tharp remains almost unknown, with
Heezen credited for much of their joint work. Tharp knew she worked in the
background throughout her career, but she ruled out any resentment and recognised
the importance of documenting mid-Atlantic Ridge.
"You could only do that once. You can't find anything bigger than that, at least on this
planet."

2. From: 100 Women:Seventrailblazingwomenin science, 6 Nov2017
BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-41861232
Extra infoonAbdool KarimfromWikipedia.
Wanda Diaz-Merced: Making astronomy accessible
Astrophysicist Wanda Diaz-Merced began to see spots when she was an
undergraduate student at the University of Puerto Rico.
Diabetic retinopathy would soon deprive her of vision altogether, but she was
determined not to change her chosen career.
A Nasa internship gave Diaz-Merced the opportunity to work with a method called
data sonification. This translated the satellite information from stars that she was
studying into sound waves, instead of visual graphs - on which astronomers usually
rely heavily.
She would go on to develop this software further, making it possible for
astrophysicists to more accurately interpret their data, and making the field
accessible to a range of researchers who had previously been excluded.
Diaz-Merced currently works with the South African Office of Astronomy for
Development, opening up the world of astronomy to a generation of blind students.
"For my field of astronomy which I really love I want no segregation," she told 100
Women. " I want people to have equal opportunities to display their talents."
Quarraisha Abdool Karim: Breakthroughs in
preventing HIV/Aids
Quarraisha Abdool Karim, an infectious disease epidemiologist, has spent over 25
years researching how HIV/Aids is spread in South Africa, and its impact on different
groups. In 1992, Abdool Karim et al. published a paper, highlighting that women were
more vulnerable to the HIV infection. The study also found a correlation between
migration and HIV. This correlation was found to be particularly emphasised among
men. At the XVIII International AIDS Conference, 2010, the results of their CAPRISA
004 study led to a standing ovation, an uncommon occurrence at a scientific meeting.
In 2013, Karim was awarded South Africa's highest honour, the Order of
Mapungubwe, for her breakthrough contributions.
She has deeply engaged with women across communities for HIV prevention trials.
Currently the associate scientific director at Caprisa, Karim has served as an HIV
adviser at the United Nations agencies. She is also the vice-president of the African
Academy of Sciences.