Child prodigy, pioneer scientist, and women and civil rights advocate: Dr. Margaret James Strickland Collins (1922–1996)
Keywords:
legend, isopterist, woman, diversityAbstract
Often legends go unrecognized for their achievements in science and the betterment of society. In the case of Margaret Collins, it has been almost 20 years since her passing, and except for appreciation by a small cadre of termite experts, her contributions to entomology have received scant notice. However, her work and legacy have stood the test of time, and even today, she is considered, and often cited as, the definitive source for differences in toleration and resistance to drying among species of termites. At her core, Margaret was a field biologist, and she demonstrated it through her travels and termite collection trips to a dozen countries. Her long and illustrious career included publishing of scientific papers, tenured faculty positions, and service as a curator of the termite collection at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, in Washington, District of Columbia. Margaret achieved many firsts during her life. She was the first African American female to be awarded a Ph.D. involving entomology at a major university. In addition, she was the first woman graduate student for the legendary isopterist and Professor of Zoology, Alfred E. Emerson. Her passion for termites remains highly visible in her published works. Her passion for her family and her strong support of civil rights for women and African Americans were less visible except to those she knew personally. This is her story.
Resumen
A menudo, las leyendas no son reconocidos por sus logros en la ciencia y la mejora de la sociedad. En el caso de Margaret Collins, que ha sido casi 20 años desde su muerte, y con excepción de un agradecimiento por un pequeño grupo de expertos de termitas, sus contribuciones a la entomología han recibido poca atención. Sin embargo, su obra y legado han resistido la prueba del tiempo, y aún hoy en día, es considerada, y, a menudo citado como la fuente definitiva de las diferencias en la tolerancia y resistencia a secado entre las especies de termitas. En su núcleo, Margaret era un biólogo de campo, y se demostró a través de sus viajes y viajes de recolección de termitas a una docena de países. Su larga e ilustre carrera incluyó la publicación de trabajos científicos, las posiciones sobre la titularidad, y el servicio como un conservador de la colección de termitas en el Museo de Historia Natural de la Institución Smithsonian en Washington, Distrito de Columbia. Margaret logró muchas primicias durante su vida. Ella fue la primera mujer afroamericana en recibir un Ph.D. la participación de la entomología en una universidad importante. Además, ella fue el primer estudiante mujer graduado para el legendario isopteristo y Profesor de Zoología, Alfred E. Emerson. Su pasión por las termitas sigue siendo muy visible en sus obras publicadas. Su pasión por su familia y su fuerte apoyo de los derechos civiles de las mujeres y los afroamericanos eran menos visibles, excepto a los que conocía personalmente. Esta es su historia.
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