Five women, five stories  and one shared purpose: fighting poverty and malnutrition.

Despite being born in different places and times, they have all witnessed human vulnerability and turned their intelligence into a tool for change. Discover how their actions are making a difference in the world... Let's get started!

Harriette Chick.

If you like to turn on the tap and have clean water coming out, thank scientists like Harriette Chick. She was born in 1874 in England. She pursued a scientific career and managed, not without difficulty, to get into the Lister Institute, where she conducted her main research. Among other things, Chick figured out how to calculate the optimal amount of disinfectant to make water drinkable.

World War I changed Chick's scientific priorities, and he became interested in the ill health affecting the population. He focused on the relationship between various diseases and malnutrition. For example, he demonstrated that rickets was due solely to nutritional deficiencies, which could be alleviated by the intake of certain vitamins and by sunbathing.

Kamala Sohonie.

In 1912 Kamala Sohonie, the first Indian woman to earn a doctorate in science, was born. It was not easy for her. Both her father and brother were scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IIS), but she was denied entry to the Institute because she was a woman. After much insistence, she was admitted on the condition that she would not distract the other male researchers. From then on, her scientific career took off, and she went on to work at several prestigious universities.

Sohonie managed to reduce malnutrition among the poorest people in her country by investigating the nutritional values and deficiencies of three food groups that were widely consumed: legumes, palm nectar and rice flour. Among other things, he recommended adding palm nectar to dairy products, which had very positive effects on the health of the population.

Evangelina Villegas Moreno

Evangelina Villegas Moreno was born in Mexico in 1924. Although at that time it was very difficult for Mexican women to study a scientific career, she graduated in chemistry and biology. She did her doctorate in the United States and returned to her country to work at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. She was the first woman to receive the World Food Prize.

Many countries depend on maize as a staple crop. However, this traditional corn did not have the right proportion of protein to support the healthy growth and development of children and adults. Villegas created a transgenic corn richer in protein that could better meet nutritional needs, thus reducing the risk of malnutrition worldwide.

Maria Andrade.

Maria Andrade was born in 1958 in Cape Verde but, after high school, moved to Arizona, where she graduated and earned a master's degree in plant genetics. She did a PhD at North Carolina State University on plant breeding and returned to the African continent to improve people's nutrition.

In particular, she has become known for her research on drought-tolerant crops. Like Villegas, in 2016 she won the World Food Prize for her development of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. This variety can grow with limited water and is rich in vitamin A, so his work has helped reduce vitamin A deficiency in arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Considering that vitamin A deficiency can lead to total blindness and even death, it is understandable that she was given the award.

Robyn Gwen Alders.

Robyn Gwen grew up on a farm in Australia and became the first veterinarian to be made an Officer of the Order of Australia. She graduated from the University of Sydney and earned a PhD in pregnancy immunology from the Australian National University.

In particular, Gwen is a scientist who is well known for her work in food safety. For example, she has managed to improve the health of poultry in developing countries. Her work especially helps poor women who manage to survive thanks to the meat and eggs provided by these animals. A documentary about her work was published in 2012.

A legacy of science, sustainability, and commitment to the future.

The legacy of these five women demonstrates that science and innovation can transform the world, ensuring more accessible, nutritious, and sustainable food for all. Their work has not only improved the lives of millions but also serves as a reminder of the importance of adopting responsible practices in every aspect of our society.

At Biosphere, we promote initiatives that foster sustainable development, aligned with the values that have driven these scientists—protecting natural resources, strengthening food security, and advocating for solutions that respect both the planet and communities. Following their example, each of us can contribute to a more just and balanced future, where progress always goes hand in hand with sustainability.