Follow the adventures of eight leading women in chemistry and celebrate the common element that catalyzed their journeys: a life-changing, chance-taking, thrill-seeking love of science. Watch the series trailer, or click on the thumbnails to visit each person’s page, view her video, and learn more about her achievements.

The Catalyst Series stars: 

  • Nancy Chang, cofounder and former CEO of the biopharmaceutical firm Tanox;
  • Uma Chowdhry, retired senior vice president and chief science and technology officer of DuPont;
  • Mildred Cohn, first female president of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology;
  • Mary L. Good, former president of the American Chemical Society, undersecretary for technology in the U.S. Department of Commerce under President Bill Clinton, and recipient of the Priestley Medal;
  • Kathryn Hach-Darrow, cofounder of the Hach Chemical Company and the only woman to receive CHF’s Pittcon Heritage Award;
  • Paula Hammond, David H. Koch Professor in engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
  • Stephanie Kwolek, former research associate at DuPont and inventor of Kevlar; and
  • Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder, chairman, and managing director of Biocon Limited.
   Join CHF and WHYY-TV12 on March 27

 

Listen in as women describe their scientific adventures and career insights, and share your own in the comments: first jobs, big breaks, and good advice are all welcome.  

 

Reflections on Careers

In videos captured as part of CHF’s Oral History Program, women working in chemistry and related sciences reflect on mentorship, life-work balance, disparities in the workplace, and more.