The Scientific Contributions of Rachel Carson

The Scientific Contributions of Rachel Carson

“One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?” A quote by the late Rachel Carson, that has inspired biologists and writers around the world in the pursuit of science. Rachel Carson was a scientist, ecologist and prolific writer that began her days in the early 1900’s on a 65-acre farm in rural Pennsylvania1. In Rachel’s early years her mother bestowed upon her a life-long love and appreciation for nature. At the age of ten her writings captured this affection and were published in a children’s magazine focused on the work of young writers2.

Many years later, Rachel’s passion had not diminished and half way through her studies at Pennsylvania College for Women she switched from an English major to Biology.2 Following a summer fellowship at the U.S. Marine Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, Rachel received a full scholarship to Johns Hopkins University, an enormous accomplishment for a woman during this time3. In 1932, she received her master’s degree in zoology and began her career in the United States Bureau of Fisheries. Here, Rachel wrote a series of seven-minute radio programs titled “Romance Under the Water”1. During financial hardships, she would supplement her family’s income writing feature articles on natural history for the Baltimore Sun.2

After moving through various positions as an employee of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel was finally appointed editor-in-chief of the information division.4 Carson’s scientific contributions came in a series of books that bequeathed society with a responsibility for other forms of life. Her first and favorite book, Under the Sea-Wind: A Naturalist’s Picture of Ocean Life, conveyed her fascination with the ocean and gave way to her second book, The Sea Around Us.3 After the completion of her first three books, Carson focused on her growing concern of the impacts of pesticides on human and environmental health. Arguably her most famous book, Silent Spring (1956), exposed the hazards of DDT and set the stage for the environmental movement2.

DDT, the most powerful pesticide at the time, was capable of killing hundreds of insect species. The pesticide was used to clear malaria-causing insects during World War II granting its inventor the Nobel Prize.5 When DDT became available for civilian use in 1945, only a few people expressed concern. This included writer Edwin Teale who warned of the deadly environmental impacts and Carson who pleaded for tests to be done on the long-term effects of the chemical4. Their warnings went unnoticed and ignored as the industry grew. It was only thirteen years later when Carson’s interest was rekindled by