International Women’s Day is a day that commemorates the social, economic, cultural, and political accomplishments of women. It also serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for gender parity and acknowledges the contributions of women to STEM fields.

Today, the Banting Research Foundation honors the many scientific discoveries and contributions that women have made throughout history. From Marie Curie to Rosalind Franklin, women have played critical roles in the field of science.

For example, Marie Curie’s work on radioactivity led to the development of X-rays and radiation therapy for cancer treatment. Her discovery of two new elements earned her two Nobel Prizes in physics and chemistry, making her the first woman to receive this honor.

Rosalind Franklin’s work on X-ray crystallography provided crucial evidence for the double helix structure of DNA, which James Watson and Francis Crick later used to publish their landmark paper on the structure of DNA.

Other women who have made noteworthy contributions to science include Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, and Chien-Shiung Wu. In recent years, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 for their work on CRISPR-Cas9, a revolutionary gene-editing tool.

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is another remarkable woman who played a pivotal role in the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Her expertise in viral immunology and vaccine development has been instrumental in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the many obstacles that women have faced in STEM fields, they have persisted and made exceptional contributions to science and technology. The Banting Research Foundation is dedicated to promoting gender equality and diversity in science by recognizing the contributions of women in science and inspiring future generations of women to pursue STEM fields.