Ellen Swallow Richards

Ellen Swallow Richards (1842-1911) was an American industrial and safety engineer and a pioneer in the field of home economics. She was the first woman to graduate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and played a crucial role in promoting the study of household management and its importance to public health and society. Richards advocated for the application of science to everyday life, emphasizing issues such as water quality, nutrition, and sanitation. Her work laid the foundation for the modern home economics discipline, highlighting how science can improve living conditions and enhance the well-being of families and communities.