A LAB OF ONE'S OWN

Narrator Jackie Sanders favors a neutral, informative delivery as she reads this story of sexism in science. Sanders's approach is similar to author Rita Cowell's strategy when dealing with her obstructionist male colleagues--stay calm and avoid channeling melodramatics or anger. Not surprisingly, there is plenty to get angry about--from the denial of Colwell's research fellowship request in 1956 ("We don't waste fellowships on women," she was told.)--to Nobel Prize winner Francis Crick's 1964 groping of a female Harvard undergraduate. Colwell, the first woman to lead the National Science Foundation, persevered in her career to make historical discoveries relating to cholera and anthrax. Alas, the real tragedy of scientific misogyny is that half the population is effectively prohibited from helping to solve the world's problems. R.W.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2020]