International Women’s Day – Celebrating Women in Plastics.

Throughout history women have been overlooked and their contributions erased.  Many female scientists and researchers have made outstanding discoveries and contributions that male colleagues and supervisors have gone on to receive Nobel prizes for.

Women like Mary Elizabeth Anderson, Mary Elliot Hill, Stephanie Kwolek and Letitia Mumford Geer were groundbreaking in their advancements in science and have led the way for other women to make really significant changes to the world of science, technology and plastics.  We want to celebrate these women and the thousands of others who make such an impact on the industry.

Mary Elizabeth Anderson was an American inventor best known for her groundbreaking wind shield wiper system in 1903. Her idea of operating a wiper system from the inside led to her ground-breaking invention. Today, the windscreen wiper is an integral part of every vehicle and has significantly improved driving safety.

Mary Elliott Hill was one of the first African American women to become a chemist. She was also an early pioneer in the new science of plastics. Working alongside her husband, Carl McClellan Hill, she did groundbreaking work on ketene synthesis. Her focus was on what are known as ‘monomeric ketenes’ that can undergo polymerisation. This is a critical step in the creation of all plastics.

Stephanie Kwolek’s groundbreaking research led to the development of Kevlar in 1965, a type of aramid fibre which is extremely strong and lightweight, with resistance to corrosion and heat. Kwolek’s pioneering contributions revolutionised the field of plastics, paving the way for new applications in industries such as aerospace and automotive. Today, Kevlar is used in over 200 applications, including bulletproof vests, tyres and firefighting equipment. Kwolek’s discovery opens the door for further advances in polymer research and remains an inspiration for future generations.

Letitia Mumford Geer invented the first one-handed syringe, a forerunner of modern plastic syringes. Her development simplified medical treatments and is still an indispensable instrument in medicine today. She focussed on an ergonomic design that enabled easy handling. Her work laid the foundation for the later plastic syringes that are used worldwide today.

Denroy recognises how important women are in engineering and the world of plastics and have many women working for them in different departments. As an employer we actively give training opportunities to women for example, one of our staff members returned to college at the age of 46 to study engineering, allowing her to apply and successfully achieve a new role as Configurations Engineer within the Technical department.  We also offer the opportunity to undertake several training courses which help women progress through the company which is the most important way Denroy can insure women are nurtured and supported within the industry.

While encouraging young women at the start of their careers to understand the opportunities within the industry, it is also important they see role models ahead who inspire.  On international women’s day we shine a light on all the achievements of women in plastics and look to a future with access for women and equality.