Features from BIOTOC Connection
Scientists of Color: Innovators from the Past and Present
Chemotherapy was once considered to be taboo before Dr. Jane C. Wright pushed to make it a standard of treatment for cancer patients. Wright began her career by working alongside her father, Dr. Louis T. Wright, at the Cancer Research Foundation in Harlem Hospital. Her father was one of the first Black men to graduate from Harvard Medical School, following her father's example of breaking through barriers. When he passed away in 1952, Wright took over as the director of the research center, where her experiments led Wright to successfully provide treatment for human cancer patients. She went on to form the American Society of Clinical Oncology to improve doctor care for cancer patients. She was the only Black woman out of the other seven male physicians on the board. Her successes did not end there as President Lyndon B. Johnson soon after appointed her to his commission.
Read More
#BeautifulMinds: Modern Women Scientists Receiving Awards
Throughout history, female scientists have made extraordinary contributions to science, such as Rosalind Franklin, who helped develop the structure of DNA, or Rachel Carson, who catalyzed the environmental movement with her book Silent Spring. However, very few women have won the Nobel Prize for their scientific achievements. Instead, men were honored for their discoveries, and women were left on the sidelines. Why have only 22 women been awarded a Nobel Prize in science, one of the most prestigious awards given to people who have made significant contributions to the field? The answer lies in implicit bias that women have been fighting for centuries. This stereotype that “women are bad at math” or “don't like science” creates barriers, blocking women from entering the industry. Since the stereotypes are reinforced early on, young girls who might pursue a career in the STEM field are left discouraged. Additionally, these implicit biases cause women to receive less credit for their work. For example, publications by women take almost twice as long to be reviewed, and many women are pressured to use their surname in order to prevent gender bias. These factors have led to the underrepresentation of women in STEM, but in rec
Read More
Robert's Insights: What are the top DIY routines for brightening dark spots due to PIH?
What is Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)?
According to DermNet NZ, “Postinflammatory pigmentation is temporary pigmentation that follows an injury, i.e. thermal burn or inflammatory disorder of the skin (i.e dermatitis, infection). It is mostly observed in darker skin types (see ethnic dermatology). Postinflammatory pigmentation is also called acquired melanosis. More severe injury results in postinflammatory hypopigmentation, which is usually permanent.”
Permanently stopping hyperpigmentation is impossible but there are top routine tips for getting rid of post-acne marks or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (hereafter PIH). As indicated by DermNet NZ, anyone with darker skin types is more prone to deal with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Your skin triggers pigment production overdrive after you have inflammation such as wounds, pimples, hormonal changes, irritation, or sunburn. This leaves dark spots on your skin that can be light brown or darker purplish-black spots. Many people who are in their 30's (even among teenagers) start suffering from PIH and it causes annoyance, stress, and even depression if an individual’s appearance is severely impacted by PIH.
Spotlight: Insights from Edwina Dunn
Edwina Dunn’s current job is not exactly what she imagined for herself: as a girl she wanted to be a long-distance truck driver believing that it was glamorous to be your own boss, driving the highways in a big rig across the wide-open plains of America. She’d watched too many movies! Her advice from school at that time was that she should aspire to be a secretary, nurse, or teacher – those were the options recommended. This was a far cry from the life she forged in her own data science company, dunnhumby. And the journey continues, right through to her current role in London Starcount. Both her early dream and the reality she subsequently created were not typically thought of as careers for women. Today, Dunn is working hard to showcase more opportunities for women in leadership positions, especially in STEM. She is the founder of The Female Lead which is an educational charity that focuses on highlighting the achievements of women and providing educational resources to young girls in school.
Read More
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
- According to scientists, there is an average of one million different species of animals living in the ocean.
- Corn and cotton have been genetically modified to produce a toxin that kills insects.
- Sharks mistake fiber cables in the ocean for distressed fish. Google had to wrap its cables in Kevlar material in order to prevent sharks from feeding on them.
Industry Updates: Agriculture, Biotechnology and Entomology Collide
Biotechnology may be used to replace agrochemicals in the near future to make farming more sustainable. Agrochemicals include fertilizers, pesticides, and soil conditioners. While these methods are widely used to kill insects and preserve crops, their damage to the environment has called for concern in recent years. The European Union has become an advocate for lowering the use of harmful pesticides by announcing its plan to reduce its use by 50% by 2030.
Scientists of Color: The Marine Biologist Making Waves in the Ocean’s Future
Beaches have always been a safe haven away from the hot summer heat. Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is making sure that will continue to be the case in the future.
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, and strategist from Brooklyn, NY. She is the CEO and founder of Ocean Collectiv, where she focuses on ocean conservation. Her work looks to provide solutions to issues such as plastic pollution, overfishing, climate change, and the destruction of natural habitats.
The Matilda Effect: Hidden Gems of Science
Rosalind Franklin is one of the most significant female scientists of the twentieth century - yet also one of the least credited. Although she made incredibly important discoveries on the DNA structure, changing the world’s understanding of genetics and biology, Franklin’s work has only been recognized in recent years.
Franklin was a determined and brilliant woman. At the age of 18, she studied physics and chemistry at Cambridge University, and then later moved to Paris to study X-ray crystallography.
Spotlight: Q&A with Dr. Jennifer Chadwick
Dr. Jennifer Chadwick does a lot with her time. In addition to being Vice President of Biologic Development at BioAnalytix, she is also a visiting scientist and professor at Northeastern University as well as serving as a mentor to scientific entrepreneurs and a strategic advisor to MassBio, a not-for-profit organization that supports the life sciences industry in Massachusetts. “I enjoy engaging in a number of activities on a volunteer basis that helps me to keep my connection with the science,” Dr. Chadwick said.
Read More
Did You Know?
Did You Know?
- The average woman uses about a dozen personal care products a day, containing 168 chemicals in total.
- 99.9% of human DNA is the same - we are more alike than you think! The other 0.1% is what makes us unique.
- There is enough DNA in the average person's body to stretch from the sun to Pluto and back - 17 times.
Industry Updates
The desire for “clean beauty” is on the rise and consumers are demanding more information from their favorite brands on how “clean” their products truly are. A recent survey of 24,000 women (conducted by Influenster and Bazaarvoice) found that the majority of women want their beauty products to be transparent in their labeling. 60% of women believe that beauty brands that claim to be clean don’t explain why.
Read More
What’s Inside? Beauty Ingredient Breakdown
There has been a large movement by beauty companies to create products that don’t use harmful ingredients, including 10 major ones that are commonly found in cosmetic products, such as tar and parabens. These chemicals are hazardous to people’s health and can negatively affect much more than just skin. They can cause nausea and headaches, and can even harm the kidneys and immune system.
Read More