Towards a history of women in the geosciences

Women have been pioneers in geoscience disciplines such as the structure of the Earth, palaeontology, oil exploration, organic geochemistry and plate tectonics theory. Gaining professional employment and geological credence came slowly, with few women recognized before the late nineteenth century. We highlight their important roles and the obstacles they have overcome to gain degrees and employment, as well as high office. Supplementary material: Supplementary table 1 shows a selection of women geological pioneers who lived, worked and died mainly within the nineteenth century or earlier, and supplementary table 2 gives a selection of geoscience women who lived, worked and died mainly within the twentieth century; they are both available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3283388