Women in Ecology

The field of environmental sciences is relative new, so considering that the career "Engineering in Renewable Natural Resources" was created only 25 years ago, I focused on the area of ecology to choose the person I admire. I had a hard time choosing just one person, so I decided to talk a little about the three women who in different times and perspectives marked history. 

I start with Rachel Carson, she was a marine biologist born in 1907 who with the publication of her book "Silent Spring" in which she investigated the use of pesticides, popularized contemporary environmentalism in the masses. Although she faced the full wrath of the men of the time, she managed to bring environmental science closer to the common people and thanks to her there is now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Earth Day, laws in the world against pesticides and the current environmental movement.

Then we continued with Wangari Muta Maathai, the so-called "Women Tree", her perspective seen from the point of view of society was a little more difficult because apart from being a black woman in Kenya, she also fought for the rights of nature.

She had the privilege of studying, which led her to become a biologist, environmentalist and political activist. She was the first woman to earn a PhD from Central and East Africa. She founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977 with which she managed to plant thousands of trees. In 2004, she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.

Finally, I had to name Macarena Valdés, a Mapuche woman murdered for being an environmental leader who to this day continues to demand justice for her death. 

She dedicated her life to the connection she felt with nature and should be in this post.  

I admire them mainly for their strength and the great example of life they are.