Recently, Dr. Frances Colón, Deputy Science and Technology Advisor for the U.S. Secretary of State, shared the legacy of pioneer scientist and feminist Ana Roqué de Duprey. The story is part of a White House project to share the untold stories of women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
"Ana Roqué de Duprey was born in Puerto Rico in 1853. She started a school in her home at age 13 and wrote a geography textbook for her students, which was later adopted by the Department of Education of Puerto Rico. Roqué had a passion for astronomy and education, founding several girls-only schools as well as the College of Mayagüez, which later became the Mayagüez Campus of the University of Puerto Rico. Roqué wrote the Botany of the Antilles, the most comprehensive study of flora in the Caribbean at the beginning of the 20th century, and was also instrumental in the fight for the Puerto Rican woman’s right to vote."
This story was first published on the White House Women in STEM website.
