European women in chemistry

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„I have no dress except the one I wear every day. If you are going to be kind enough to give me one, please let it be practical and dark so that I can put it on afterwards to go to the laboratory“, said Marie Curie about her wedding dress. Gertrude B. Elion later advised, "Don't be afraid of hard work. Don't let others discourage you, or tell you that you can't do it. In my day I was told women didn't go into chemistry. I saw no reason why we couldn't." These quotes from Nobel Prize-winning chemists highlight the challenges faced by female scientists over the centuries, challenges that persist today. Carl Friedrich Gauss noted in 1807 that women in science must possess "noble courage, extraordinary talents, and superior genius." In celebration of the International Year of Chemistry, the European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS) focuses on the contributions of women in chemistry. This celebration, central to European Women in Chemistry, chronicles the lives of remarkable women from ancient times to the present who pursued chemistry against societal expectations. The book showcases both well-known figures like Curie and Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin and lesser-known contributors who made significant impacts. It serves as a tribute to these women and inspires future generations to forge new paths, champion unconventional ideas, and take control of their destinies.