Rachel Louise Carson (1907-1964) was an environmental activist, marine biologist and writer. She grew up on a farm in Pennsylvania, where she was very interested in animals and reading. Carson obtained an undergraduate degree in biology from the Pennsylvania College for Women. She went on to graduate school, studying zoology and genetics at John Hopkins University in Maryland. Carson completed her dissertation on the embryonic kidney development in fish, specifically the pronephros structure. She then earned her masters degree in zoology from John Hopkins. Carson was going to continue on to obtain her PhD, but went through some financial troubles and took up a variety of marine biology related part time jobs instead. She shortly after became the second woman employed by the US Department of Fisheries full time. In the 50s, Carson shifted her focus to conservation work. She wrote many books, her most famous work being the book Silent Spring, published in 1962. This book was a call, one of many, to stop the widespread use of DDT in North America. Silent Spring stood out as it was not only persuasive, scientifically accurate information, but was also written in a way that was accessible to the general public. This book played a major part in the environmental movement of the time, calling to action concerned citizens, especially housewives wanting to do good. There were, of course, mixed reactions, with many government officials and anyone profiting off of DDT dismissing any of her claims and insulting Carson personally. But she did have the support of millions, including John F. Kennedy. DDT was banned a few years after Silent Spring was published and is still not allowed in US circulation to this day.
–https://www.rachelcarson.org/ –https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magazine/how-silent-spring-ignited-the-environmental-movement.html
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 