MIT: Posthumously Award Ellen Swallow Richards her Rightfully Earned Ph.D. in Chemistry!!

I am creating this petition because I want Ellen Swallow Richards to get what she deserves. Ellen was the first female admitted to the Massachuttes Institute of Technology (MIT). She was a champion for combining science with social science. She became the #1 international water scientist before she graduated. She graduated with a B.S. in chemistry and was the first woman in America to earn a chemistry degree. She continued to serve MIT with a women's laboratory she created on her own with her own money. She worked for free as a professor at the women's lab. She studied for her Ph.D. and completed all necessary course work, however, MIT did not want their first Ph.D. in chemistry to go to a woman. She was never given the Ph.D. she earned! She was later given a paid role as faculty at MIT, however, she never received the respect she deserved despite being loyal to MIT. She founded Ecology and too many other accomplishments to name. She was a leader, champion, hero and so much more. Please sign my petition!


Lillian Rawlins 5th grade student    Contact the author of the petition

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