Overview of the History of Women at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Abstract

The San Diego Evening Tribune headline was "San Diego Mother Wins Nobel Physics Prize." 1 Maria Meyer's achievement and the mixed message of the headline combine to make UCSD a very interesting place to study the history of women in science.That history starts down the hill at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.The history of women in science at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography is consistent with the history of women in science in the United States described in the work of historian Margaret Rossiter 2 , although there are also some interesting differences.Broadly speaking, Rossiter notes that women in the 1890's could get scientific training in the United States, especially in private east coast women's colleges, but suffered discrimination in employment.While women were entirely excluded from some fields, other disciplines were seen as particularly appropriate to women.Astronomy offered more opportunities for women than physics, for instance.Women scientists found their professional opportunities especially limited immediately following World War II.Beginning in the 1960's opportunities expanded for women in science, and policies that discriminated against women were eliminated at many American academic institutions.

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