Tip Sheets
Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard
Albert Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research, 1991
- For charting new paths in developmental biology leading to the discovery of nearly all the genes responsible for organizing basic body patterns
Fast Facts
- Nüsslein-Volhard received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1995
- In 2004 Nüsslein-Volhard launched the Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard Foundation, which provides grants to women scientists with children to pay for household help and child care so that they can sustain the intense time commitment required for a career in science
- Nüsslein-Volhard is the author of Coming to Life: How Genes Drive Development (Kales, 2006)
Economic Analysis
- The United States economy relies on the productivity, entrepreneurship, and creativity of its people. To maintain its scientific and engineering leadership amid increasing economic and educational globalization, the United States must aggressively pursue the innovative capacity of all its people—women and men. However, women face barriers to success in every field of science and engineering—obstacles that deprive the country of an important source of talent. Without a transformation of academic institutions to tackle such barriers, the future vitality of the U.S. research base and economy are in jeopardy.
Source: Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, 2006
The Future
Evo-Devo: The burgeoning field of evo-devo, which brings together studies of evolution and developmental biology, builds on Nüsslein-Volhard's fundamental discoveries. For more on evo-devo, go here.
Stem cell research: Nüsslein-Volhard's discoveries illuminate the earliest stages of an embryo's development. To hear her discuss stem cell research go here.
Issue: Women in Science
The overall number of bachelor's and doctorate degrees awarded to women in science has grown tremendously since the 1970s. However, stereotypes, biases, and institutional policies continue to hinder women's careers in science. The following reports from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine explore these issues in the context of the United States.
Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering (2007)
Biological, Social, and Organizational Components of Success for Women in Academic Science and Engineering: Workshop Report (2006)
Who Will Do the Science of the Future? A Symposium on Careers of Women in Science (2000)
Resources
On Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard:
http://www.cnv-stiftung.de/content/goals.html
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1995/nusslein-volhard-autobio.html
http://www.eb.tuebingen.mpg.de/departments/3-genetics/christiane-nusslein-volhard/?searchterm=nusslein-volhard
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/04/science/04conv.html?_r=1&fta=y&oref=slogin
http://www.nyas.org/publications/readersReport.asp?articleID=57
On women in science:
National Science Foundation, statistics
Association for Women in Science
Statistics on European women in science
"Fixing the Leaky Pipeline," by Phoebe Leboy, in The Scientist, vol 22, p. 67
Women in Science blog and resources