Florence Bascom, geologist, holding a compass
Florence Bascom Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Women's History Archives at Smith College

Florence Bascom

Florence Bascom, who lived from 1862 until 1945, was one of the most important geologists in the United States. She studied mineral crystals by looking at them very closely with a microscope. She also studied metamorphic rocks and how mountains form.

Long ago, it was not easy for a woman to go to college in the U.S., but that didn’t stop Florence! She earned two bachelor’s degrees, a master’s degree, and a Ph.D. in geology. She was the second woman to ever earn a Ph.D. in geology in the U.S.

Florence started teaching geology at Bryn Mawr, a women’s college, in 1895. She collected minerals, rocks, and fossils for the college and taught hundreds of students over the years. Many of her students became successful geologists just like she did!

Last modified September 21, 2009 by Lisa Gardiner.

You might also be interested in:

Science, Evolution, and Creationism

How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable....more

Regional Metamorphism

Sometimes rocks are metamorphosed over large areas that are the size of many states or even several countries. This is called regional metamorphism. How could this happen? What force has the power to...more

Scientists Who Study Rocks

Geology is the study of rocks and geologists are the people who study them! There are many different types of geologists. Mineralogists study minerals. Petrologist study rocks. Structural geologist study...more

Florence Bascom

Florence Bascom, who lived from 1862 until 1945, was one of the most important geologists in the United States. She studied mineral crystals by looking at them very closely with a microscope. She also...more

Niels Bohr

Niels Bohr was a Danish physicist who lived between 1885-1962. He studied the structure of atoms and developed a new theory about how the electrons in an atom were arranged. After helping build the first...more

Marie Curie

Marie Curie was a physicist and chemist who lived between 1867-1934. She studied radioactivity and the effects of x-rays. She was born Maria Skłodowska in Warsaw, Poland. Women could not study then...more

Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was a German physicist who lived between 1879-1955. He is probably the most well-known scientist in recent history. Have you heard of Einstein's famous theory? It is called the theory...more

Robert Goddard

Robert Goddard was an American physicist who lived between 1882-1945. He studied rockets and showed how they could be used to travel into outer space and to the Moon. Goddard experimented with different...more

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA