Insightful, informative, and important. Rita Colwell is a distinguished environmental microbiologist and was the first female director of the National Science Foundation. She’s certainly got the credentials on paper, but in <i>A Lab of One’s Own</i>, she marches through her own backstory and other womens’ accounts, speaking to scientific disciplines deeply entrenched in a history of sexism and atrocious displays of gender discrimination. This is familiar territory when it comes to women in the workplace, but I still found myself shocked and think I will be until I read or hear enough about what it was like in every corner of the 20th century for women in America. I would like to think of science as progressive. In many ways, it is, yet there is also a glaring reality and a past that must be revealed. Women should band together, men should be upheld to a basic moral standard, and the system must be changed.

Heavily focused on events and people from the 1950s to modern day, <i>A Lab of One’s Own</i> demonstrates the systematic discouragement and barriers faced by women entering the upper echelons of academic science in the US with personal anecdotes from manifold sources, employment statistics and polls, and Colwell’s own journey. While there is heartening credit to some of the most brilliant minds of the time, it is largely upsetting to read about all the gross mistreatment, assault, and shortchanging of women in science. Luckily, Colwell takes down the construct of the white male genius with unfettered confidence, and it is truly empowering to read. She and other women who have boldly opened doors or found their way around them are role models to any women in STEMM or pursuing their passion.

Every young woman should read this book, especially those interested in entering science. Colwell proffers clear and rational steps forward that should be implemented to change the sexist system that still exists, now and in the future. What an incredible demonstration of the incredible humanity, passion, and dedication that exists in 100% of our population, not just 50%.

Dr. Rita Colwell is an amazing scientist and her new book is awesome. Really enjoyed her perspective on the field of science changing over decades and her fight to be a PhD. However, the book is also about her work at the National Science Foundation and other women in science. Dr. Colwell has a positive attitude that seems to come from her inner strength, not because she just hopes things work out. Lots of great quotes and information for young women in all professions. Think this should be required high school reading for all students!

Women have been overlooked and harassed for many years in many industries. Even the systematic discrimination they have experienced has often been swept under the rug and denied. History of Marie Curie's contributions to our understanding of radioactivity has been rewritten to acknowledge her work, but how much of her struggles to be recognized have been glossed over? The #MeToo movement has brought gender inequality front and center to our social awareness. However, long before the movement was named, women and their male allies have steadily chipped away at the male dominance in the ivory tower of scientific study.

As a woman in science, I was interested in the historical aspect of A Lab of One's Own as well as a wider perspective of where women in science stand today. I got that and more - a closer look at cholera and anthrax research as well as the evolution of the life sciences disciplines.

Dr. Rita Colwell is uniquely situated to detail the history of women in the sciences. She not only lived through key moments but she was a leading player in the changes that have led to more women working in the sciences. The insider knowledge she brings to the table added depth to her story - making it the perfect blend of history and memoir.

I love science history and the first third of the book was a broad look at the history of women in history - how they often worked as unpaid volunteers or in their husband laboratories, instances of intellectual theft, etc. This section is peppered with information from first-hand accounts so it isn't just a boring account. I felt like I knew these women and was appalled at their treatment. Then the book moves more into Colwell's personal journey, segues to research projects she has been involved in (cholera and anthrax after 9/11) and her leadership roles at the NSF and business world, and finishes with where we are now and what still is needed to bring true equity to the sciences so that our big world problems can be solved by the smartest people from 100% of our population.

I was impressed by all that Colwell and her female colleagues went through and accomplished so that I never had to experience overt sexual discrimination and harassment. I think I was most shocked by how recently some of the obstacles were overcome. I had assumed most of the work of breaking down barriers was done in the 1960s and 70s, so it was eye-opening when she mentioned things occurring in the late 1990s - the time when I was in college and was considering a career as a wildlife biologist. Some of the statistics she provided for universities where she had worked had me wanting to look up those numbers for my own university.

While I've never worried about a male scientist grabbing my breast instead of shaking my hand (I'm still flabbergasted at that story in the book), I do wonder if I was subject to subtle forms of sexual discrimination or gender bias during my college career. This book did help me understand more the defensiveness I heard a few weeks into my freshman year when a fellow student called our history professor Ms. instead of Dr. The professor commented that the student must not think a woman could have a doctorate. I thought her comment was harsh given that few of us had encountered a teacher, male or female, that went by doctor prior to entering college.

A Lab of One's Own isn't about white men being evil, Cowell names several white male colleagues who were allies and sometimes instrumental in elevating the role of females in the science. It also isn't just about women in history. In the chapters about her cholera research, time as director of the NSF, and work with the anthrax and gulf coast projects, Colwell details changes in technology and techniques that revolutionized scientific research (often women were instrumental in bringing about these new ways). She was at the forefront of bioinformatics and interdisciplinary research.

If you love science history, have an interest in a more equitable society, or looking for advice on how to navigate your own career journey, then I highly recommend picking up this book as you will find all of that wrapped in an enjoyable read.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Friday at 6:30 am EDT - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/07/a-lab-of-ones-own-one-womans-personal.html

Great experiences both good and bad. Loved Dr Collwell's all scientific process and explanations. Especially the technology revolution that taes about 30 years. made me dig Kuhn's book. Dr.Colwell is uniquely placed with experience ina cademia, business and workign on high profile government projects to provide loads of advice on how to do successful science. Also lots of blurpeint of how to encourage women in science. I would liken it to the young scientist's version of "Letters to a young poet" by Rainer Maria Rilke.

I received this book as an digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review.

It is so frustrating that gender equality in the workplace continues to be an issue in our society. But this book does an amazing job of laying out the challenges women in science/STEM have been battling for years and I found it so inspiring what they have been able to accomplish despite the barriers placed in front of them. I enjoyed this book more than Lab Girl. While it was still a memoir, it dealt with broader issues like government and policy.

Will definitely recommend to friends.

As a women in marine science I enjoyed this book. It's always encouraging to read stories about successful female scientists who have done work to pave the way for the future females in science. The novel was well-written and I enjoyed reading about the various positions Rita held over the course of her career. The path she took to get to each place was enjoyable and encouraging and I think this is a great read for any female either in science or who is considering a career in the sciences.

This woman experienced the same sexism that many many others have in other fields. A woman trying to get ahead has to work so much harder to overcome the male dominated and opinionated arena.

*I've received this free ARC from Netgalley*

I haven't not yet finished this but felt like it needed an "in progress" mini review. I've really enjoyed her writing style, it's conversational without being overly simplistic and her subject matter is fascinating. That being said, I've had to pause reading it before bed just so I don't get too worked up. The obstacles she and other women have faced are so pervasiveand infuriating that I had to put it down. The experiences she described facing are so full of such blatent and unrepentant sexism that it makes me grateful for the moments that she talks about people who have helped her in along the way.

A Lab of One's Own is a part-memoir, part motivational non-fiction book written by Rita Colwell and Sharon Bertsch McGrayne. This book explores Rita's life as a microbiologist and the pre-existing structures that made it much harder for women like her to have equal opportunity to their male counterparts. It also takes a look at the changes that have taken place over time and the barriers that exist today, and how changes can be made to promote the inclusion and retention of women and minorities in STEMM fields.

I graduated a few years ago with a Computer Science degree and am now working in the field, so this ARC caught my eye. Many of my mentors have had the exact discussions that Rita Colwell brings to light in this book, but what makes A Lab of One’s Own so valuable is that it combines the history of women’s advancement STEMM fields with personal experiences of herself and others. This format brings to light the challenges and barriers faced and why eradicating them is so beneficial and important.

While reading this book, I oftentimes found myself absolutely frustrated with what women like Rita Colwell had to do in order to assert and prove themselves, only to continue to be taken down. From scientific leaders that considered women in the field to be a waste of time and money, to implicit bias that resulted in many women being pushed out of their careers, there are so many different topics that the authors cover in regards to how women in the sciences were treated in this time. I do think that many people underestimate the amount of prejudice women faced in this time, and for that reason, while reading A Lab of One’s Own I thought of how many people I want to read this book. I’ve had many conversations with people about the history of computer science and the dynamics of the field only for people to believe that I’m making exaggerations, so I think that this book will help put things into perspective for those that want to learn more about the field.

A Lab of One’s Own also discusses the importance of having a diverse team, and examples of where treating team members equally help outcomes. This is something that I’ve seen discussed in other books as well, but it’s something that I’ve found is crucial to overall success in the field and I’m glad it was mentioned here. Again, this is something that the book explains well that I think people should be more aware of, and not just for STEMM industries either.

The last section of A Lab of One’s Own features tons of advice directed towards many groups of people. From high school students to parents, women considering graduate studies and male allies, this section covers how to succeed in the field, and how to convince our youth, high-school students, and undergraduate students how to stay in fields that interest them. As this book mentions, many people take interest in STEMM fields and either switch majors or leave the field early, so there’s lots of advice for this group (and mentors) to help them keep moving. I’m glad to see that this was such a big section in the book. And I may be biased towards this field, but seeing (and experiencing) so much discouragement in subjects, mathematics especially, made me want to volunteer and advocate for students pursuing the sciences. Since this book has done so much to educate on the importance of these fields, I’m happy that the authors have essentially created a ‘next steps’ section for those who want to help promote positive change and education. I also liked that the authors stress the importance of educating about all fields/majors and promoting well-roundedness.

A Lab of One’s Own is an easy five-star read for me. It combines recent history, personal experiences, and motivation for those looking to pursue or advance their careers in STEMM, and how to advocate for others to do the same.

While I found this book to be extremely compelling from a story-telling/memoir standpoint, the subtle power of the book lies in the careful data-driven conclusions she makes about being a women in STEM, and the thoughtful and actionable suggestions she lays out not only for women pursuing these careers, but their peers, supervisors, teachers, and even parents. She doesn't just expose problems - she creates a concrete set of advice that in many cases has already been proven to improve the station of women (and minorities) in these fields. I hate to even bring up tone (because I feel that is an expectation often uniquely leveraged against women to detract from their arguments), but her thoughtful and matter-of-fact way of writing made the book even more impactful for me. She isn't complaining or ranting about the way things are (which she absolutely could.. some of these stories are awful). Her extraordinary career as a scientist shines through in her writing, lending an undeniable credibility to the motivational aspect of the book. To me, it was like a self-help book built from pragmatism and extensive research. The last chapter, "We Can Do It", outlined easily implemented suggestions (e.g. simply encouraging a young girl's confidence to learn math and computer science can drastically impact her decision to study those topics in higher education). It was also full of a cautious optimism - acknowledging how much change is still needed, but hopeful that future generations can achieve it.

Very interesting and inspiring book. Part memoir, part motivational book, it has a clear message: women can and should do science, despite universal sexism and discrimination. Rita Colwell has her life as example, and it is a fascinating life and outstanding career: microbiologist, university professor, first female director of National Science Foundation. I liked best the parts when she describes her research on cholera and anthrax, what a fascinating story that last one! But her observations of problems that women face in academia (and pretty much everywhere else) is also interesting and very important.

My only regret is that the writing is a little dry - halfway through the book I began to wonder if it isn't such on purpose, to avoid criticism ('it's written by a woman, don't take it too seriously") - I can understand that, but it's a pity, because dr. Colwell is very inteligent and I bet she has great sense of humor.

Thanks to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

Serving as both an autobiography and primer on women in science, this book provides great insight into the experiences of women in male-dominated STEM fields. The blending of narrative with research to back up the anecdotes make this book as informative as it is enjoyable. Colwell doesn’t shy away from getting deep into the science, and those details enrich the storytelling greatly.

While the book highlights the efforts of the women who came before us, and how much better it is for women in STEM fields now (thanks ever so much to their efforts), much of it feels just the same. I was caught up in the 1990’s groundswell of support for women in STEM, yet I had many of the same experiences as the women who entered the field in the 1950s. This phenomenon is, sadly, not unique nor eradicated.

That said, the final part of the book gets into real solutions for the issue. Discussing what can be done on personal and institutional levels to continue breaking down sexism (and all the other “isms” that plague STEM) this section provides a solid framework for moving forward. These solutions are also presented as work that needs to be done by everyone, making it clear that the issue is not that women and minorities aren't doing enough, but that the current structures are doing too little.

This book is a must read for anyone in STEM, though perhaps especially for those who have most benefited from the existing gate keeping.