Girls who looked under rocks: the lives of six pioneering naturalists

Maria Sibylla Merian (1647-1717)

Anna Botsford Comstock (1854-1930)

Frances Hamerstrom (1907-1998)

Rachel Carson (1907-1964)

Miriam Rothschild (1908- )

Jane Goodall (1934- ). These women all grew up to become award-winning scientists, writers and artists, as comfortable with a pen as with a magnifying glass. They all started out as girls who didn't run from spiders or snakes, but crouched down to take a closer look. Often they were discouraged from getting dirty, much less pursuing careers in science. But they all became enthusiastic teachers, energetic writers, and passionate scientists

frequently the only women in their fields. They each overcame opposition and found ways to pass on their vision of how all lives in nature are beautifully connected. Their stories remind us to look and to look harder and then to look again. Under rotten logs or in puddles, there are amazing things to see.