Extraordinary Women Leaders in Speleology (EWLS)

"I love to survey and help with restoration. I try to participate on as many projects as I can ... Caving has definitely changed my life."

Karla Zajac
Clinical Chemist and 2015 EWC

#ScienceWomen
#WLeadership
#ewls
www.ewls.org

Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864 – 1952) is said to be the first woman cave photographer. Her primary work consists of magazines, portraits, and social and architectural documentation. Frances started to experiment with photography during the 1885 when she started her professional studio in Washington, D.C . She was a writer as well. In 1891 she went to Mammoth Cave to gather content for the Demorest’s Family Magazine June 1892 article and her book Mammoth Cave by Flash-Light published in 1893. Later in life she photographed prominent members of Washington’s political and social circles and authored a series of articles about women photographers for the Ladies Home Journal. #WomenCavers #ewls #CavePhotography Source: kentuckyexplorer.com
Written by Tabitha Rossmann
Edited by Lisa Bauman

In the 70s "there was a kind of hazing I had to go through to be accepted [in caving]. I had been told you were not a caver unless you could cave with no equipment. I learned to climb through fear."

Carolina Shrewsbury
Founder of SpeleoArt and the International Society Speleological Art and 2015 EWC

#WLeadership
#ewls
www.ewls.org

"There is a clear need in the speleology community to open safe spaces for women to not only participate in the speleology community but also to grow into the leadership role models.”

Adriana F. Sánchez
Cultural Resources Manager, President of Xanvil Culture and Ecology, and 2015 EWC

#ScienceWomen
#WLeadership
#ewls
www.ewls.org

“New microbes are as exciting to me as virgin passages – for me there’s a similar thrill of discovery. You know it’s a great day when you get treated to both!”

Jennifer Macalady
Associate Professor, Geomicrobiologist, and 2015 EWC

#ScienceWomen
#WLeadership
#ewls
www.ewls.org

“You need to treat your team how you would like to be treated and give the young, new divers a taste of the action ... you have to give something back."

Christine Grosart
Founder of WetWellies Caving, Cave Photographer, Paramedic, and 2015 EWC

#ScienceWomen
#WLeadership
#ewls
www.ewls.org