Influential journalists: Rachel Carson

Who Is Rachel Carson?: Early Life, Education and Career

Rachel Louise Carson was born on May 27th, 1907 in Springdale, Pennsylvania. Carson grew up on a family farm surrounded by animal and plants of all kinds which would soon prove to be a sign of her future, as she enjoyed studying them. Although she had a love for animals and landscapes of all kinds from an early age, Rachel's true wish was to one day be able to view the sea. Rachel Carson thoroughly enjoyed writing about nature and all of the wonderful things that came with it. She sent her writings to her favorite magazine, St. Nicholas. She sent in four articles which earned her the title of "Honor Member".

In 1925, Carson received a four-year scholarship to the Pennsylvania College for Women and in 1929, she graduated with a degree in zoology and went on the receive her master of arts degree from Johns Hopkins in 1932. Soon after, Rachel Carson decided she wanted to become a biologist and a writer, Rachel started studying the ocean and all of its wildlife.

Fame and Accomplishments

   In 1941 Carson wrote her first book entitled The Sea Around Us. In 1955 she wrote her second book The Edge of the Sea. Though these books were very important accomplishments for Rachel, her most important book was entitled Silent Spring. The book is about the insecticide DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and its harmful effects on the environment. DDT is a synthetic organic compound introduced in the 1940's and used as an insecticide. The buildup of this compound in the food chain raised alarm for human and animal health. This resulted in the banning of DDT in 1972.

    Rachel Carson's Book Silent Spring cause controversy amongst the chemical industry and worried Americans. Carson did like or expect the attention she had surrounding herself as she had to give interviews to overbearing reporters and had companies threatening to pursue legal action against her for "ruining" their business.

Personal Life

Rachel Carson was diagnosed with breast cancer and several heart conditions in 1957. She sadly died of her cancer in April 14th, 1964.

Without Rachel Carson's book and her extensive research, DDT would still be used in the United States and our ecosystems and environment would be even more at risk.

Sources:

Lear, Linda. “Rachel Carson, the Life and Legacy.” Rachel Carson, The Life and Legacy, http://www.rachelcarson.org/.

Marquette Law Review. Religion, Education and the Law - Core. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/148691863.pdf.