Maria Sibylla Merian was born in 1647 in Frankfurt. In 1665 she married Johann Andreas Graff. Maria was an artist, receiving support from her family and husband to draw, paint, and embroider. As was common for the time, her subjects were flowers and butterflies.
Gerty Cori, was born Gerty Theresa Radnitz in 1896 in Prague to Jewish parents. She was educated in Prague, eventually completing her medical studies and marrying her husband Ferdinand Cori in 1920. Two years later, the couple emigrated to the United States of America and obtained research positions in Buffalo, New York.
Katherine Johnson was born in West Virginia in 1918. At age 18, Katherine graduated West Virginia State College with highest honours with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and French. Initially, she started working as a teacher, however in 1939 she was enrolled as the first African American woman in the graduate maths programme at West Virginia University.
Ada Lovelace, born August Ada Byron, countess of Lovelace, in 1815 in London was the daughter of infamous writer and poet Lord Byron. Growing up as a member of British aristocracy, she had a comfortable life and was provided with a well-rounded education.
Rosalind Franklin was born in 1920 in London to Jewish parents. She attended the women’s Newnham college at the University of Cambridge, studying chemistry.
