Rachel L. Carson

     Rachel Carson born on May 27, 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania.  She was a marine biologist that wrote many books.  Her writings were credited with advancing global environmental movement.  As an aquatic biologist, her bestseller The Sea Around Us won the U.S. National Book Award in 1951.  This made her become a recognized gifted writer.  Her next couple books were also bestsellers and deals with ocean life.  Later in the 50s, she focused more on environmental problems that she thought were caused by synthetic pesticides.  Soon Silent Spring came out in 1962.  Many chemical companies were upset at this work due to the negative perspective on pesticides and chemicals.  A national pesticide policy was reversed due to Carson.  DDT and other pesticides was banned nationwide and eventually a grassroots environmental movement created the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Jimmy Carter then awarded Carson the Presidential Medal of Freedom after her death in April 14, 1964.  

     Carson started writing at an early age of 8.  Her story was first published at 11 years of age.  She had a literature fascination with the natural world in her teen years, especially the ocean.  In the year 1936 she was the second women that was hired by the Bureau of Fisheries full-time as a junior aquatic biologist.  She was to analyze and report field data on fish populations and write brochures for the public.  After tragic events, Carson became the sole moneymaker in the family for her mother and two nieces.  Eventually an essay caught the attention of a publishing house and was expanded into a book.  Under the Sea Wind in 1941 was the book that received excellent reviews yet poorly sold.  While that was going on, her articles were succeeding.  Her works appeared in Sun Magazine, Nature, and Collier's.  

     While trying to leave her job that is transformed into Fish and Wildlife Service, she encountered DDT.  This was a new pesticide that was revolutionary.  It was currently being tested for ecological and safety effects.  This was during mid-1945.  Editors did not care too much for Carson's work on DDT at that time.  Yet, in 1962 her work on DDT did get published.  Carson's work continues to flourish and there was even a documentary on The Sea Around Us, but Carson was not satisfied by the film even though it received Oscar for Best Documentary in 1953.  She was upset that it did not capture the truth.  Carson accomplished many things in her lifetime and opened people's eyes to the danger of chemicals like DDT and pesticide.