CHIEN-SHIUNG WU

Chien-Shiung Wu was a Chinese-born American physicist who was known for her help in the development in the atomic science field. In the 1940's and 1950's, Wu helped improve existing technology for finding radiation, as well as the enrichment of uranium in large quantities which was very important with the creation of the atomic bomb. Wu received a Nobel Prize after she proved a theory on beta decay, which occurs when one element changes into another element. 

At a young age, Wu was interested in the field of science. She traveled from China to the United States in 1934 to pursue graduate studies in physics, studying under Ernest Lawrence at the University of California at Berkely. Wu experienced both racial and gender bias in the physics field. Not only was she a woman, but also a Chinese American in the height of World War II. Her response to women being in the field of science can be interpreted by her famous quote during her Nobel Prize speech. "I wonder whether the tiny atoms and nuclei, or the mathematical symbols, or the DNA molecules have any preference for either masculine or feminine treatment." Although there is not much racial discrimination in the science field toward Asians as there was at the height of the war, it is still apparent today. The main idea should be to remember what Wu said, science knows nothing about male or female treatment. Same goes towards race, the color of an individual does not represent their knowledge and ability.