Ruth Patrick was a prominent American biologist and ecologist who significantly contributed to the advancement of these academic fields. Despite the gender bias in most sciences in the first part of the 20th century, Patrick overcame numerous challenges and obtained nationwide fame in ecology. The curious mind and the desire to study flora and fauna led her to choose a career in biology, despite the evident setbacks in the form of gender bias and prejudices.
One of her most significant discoveries was the Patrick Principle – an idea that diversity and abundance of an ecosystem are the two most vital determinants of its health. This finding shaped her scientific style, emphasizing quantitative and thorough data with meticulous examination of all possible variables. This approach is transparent in her works on the ecosystem health of the Savannah River and the innovative proposal to measure the stream conditions based on the evaluation of organisms living in the examined environment.
Moreover, her scientific style with attention to the smallest details left no room for critics who were opposed to the idea of a woman as a pioneer in ecology. Compared to other relevant male ecologists of the time, such as Henry Cowles, for example, Ruth Patrick had to overcome various challenges due to gender bias. Moreover, her parents were also opposed to the idea of Patrick becoming a scientist. Yet, she persevered through the negative feedback and backlash from the academic community to become one of the most influential ecologists of the 20th century. Even today, Patrick’s legacy is alive in the form of her crucial discoveries, inspiring young scientists to pursue their interests despite the challenges.
Bibliography
Hearty, Ryan James. “The Patrick Principle: Ruth M. Patrick, River Ecology and the Transformation of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 1935-1975.” (PhD diss., John Hopkins University, 2019).
Patrick, Ruth. “A Proposed Biological Measure of Stream Conditions, Based on a Survey of the Conestoga Basin, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.” Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 101, (1949): 277-341.
Patrick, Ruth, John Cairns Jr., and Selwyn S. Roback. “An Ecosystematic Study of the Fauna and Flora of the Savannah River.” Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 118, (1966): 109-407.