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Women and Science

This guide is for the students in the SEBS Honors Seminar Women and Science. Fall 2019. Instructors: Distinguished Professor Joan W. Bennett and Visiting Professor Catherine Read.

Women and Science at Rutgers

Rutgers University was founded in 1766 to educate men who would then serve in the Dutch Reformed Church. Women gained access as students only in 1918 with the founding of the New Jersey College for Women (NJC), now Douglass Residential College. This portion of the guide highlights the histories of women and science at Rutgers, with focus on NJC/Douglass, as well as the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and its extension services (now Cooperative Extension Services), both integral components of the university.

Unless otherwise noted, all images are from Rutgers, Special Collections and University Archives.

Science at Douglass College

Since the early days, education in STEM at Douglass was always encouraged. Among the 234 graduates in 1931, 50, or 21 percent, received the bachelor of science degree with majors in botany, chemistry, mathematics, physics and zoology. In 1999, the Douglass Project for Rutgers Women in Math, Science and Engineering  received the prestigious Presidential Award of Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Today, this project continues to guide all Rutgers women in STEM fields.

Presidential Award for Excellence