Maybe you have never heard of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin; if not, now is your chance to find out about the interesting woman who had a huge impact on the world of science and advanced the cause of women. Her discovery that hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe was a fundamental breakthrough. She was one of the early astronomers to combine the power of physics and chemistry in order to unlock the mysteries of the stars. Born in Victorian England at a time when women were not encouraged to attend college, after graduation from Cambridge University, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin came to America to study at Harvard College Observatory under Harlow Shapley. During her four decades at Harvard, she would rise through the ranks, starting as a graduate student and becoming the first female full professor at the prestigious school. During her long and productive career, she would travel the world hosting lectures on astronomy and attending conferences. At the peak of her career, she was one of the world's foremost experts on variable stars. A dedicated wife, mother, and world class scholar, Cecilia broke the glass ceiling in the academic world and opened the door for women to advance in many different fields.

This is the sixth book in the 30 Minute Book Series. Each book in the series is fast-paced, well-worded, accurate, and covers the story in as much detail as a short book allows. In less than an hour, you can listen to the book; it is a perfect companion for a lunch hour or a nice distraction for a train ride home from work.

About the author:

Doug West is a retired engineer, small business owner, and an experienced nonfiction writer with several books to his credit. His writing interests are general, with special expertise in science, biographies, numismatics, and "how to" topics. Doug has a PhD in General Engineering from Oklahoma State University.