Celebrating Women in Science at the MBL

By Emily Greenhalgh The Marine Biological Laboratory has always been a unique institution—it’s part of the “MBL magic” that many scientists and students talk about every year. Its founding was no exception. When the MBL was founded in 1888, it was unusual for its time in that it encouraged women students of science to apply on an equal footing with their male peers. In the more than a century since, the MBL has had some ups and downs regarding women in science—the years between 1910 and 1970 saw a lull in female admissions—but has made great strides in the last 60 years in making the institution a place where everyone can study and thrive, regardless of gender. In a world where fewer than 30% of science jobs are filled by women, we’re proud that 55% of MBL employees (and 45% of our resident scientists) are women.

MBL’s Women-Heavy History

During its long history, the MBL has been a source of inspiration for generations of women in science—from Cornelia Clapp, who helped found the institution, and Rachel Carson, the mother of the modern environmental movement, to the thousands of female students who have studied in Woods Hole during the last 132 years.

From 1888 to 1910, women came to the MBL as students and investigators—many of these women were teachers in secondary schools. About one-third of the classes in advanced scientific studies were composed of women who came from across the United States to study in Woods Hole. In the Botany and Embryology courses, more than half of the students were women. Learn more about the women of MBL's history from The MBL History Project

Science and scientific discovery belong to everyone, women and men, and at the MBL, we are working hard to create an inclusive environment for scientists, students, visitors, and fellows alike.

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