In physic, we’ve been researching about Women in STEM because currently, all of the famous physicist, biologist, Computer Science, and engineering mostly well known are gay discoveries. Actually, a lot of women have done many amazing discoveries but people don’t know about it. I researched about Joan Beauchamp about her life, determination and her discoveries.
Joan Beauchamp Procter was born in Kensington Square, London, United Kingdom. She was born in 1897 and due to her health issue, chronic ill-health, she died in 1931.
However, Joan was a very unusual amazing woman who is internationally recognized as an outstanding herpetologist (the study of amphibians and reptiles), and notable zoologist (animals biology).
When Joan Procter was 10, she owned snakes and lizards as her pets. She brought her favorite lizard with her literally everywhere, instead of dolls, like most girls were expected to. Joan even brought a crocodile to school when she was sixteen. Her passion from a young age really impressed many zoologists.
Her health issue often provided an obstacle to her when she was attending university, but it never stopped her passion. During 1916, Joan became a research assistant working at the British Museum. In the same year, she presented her first scientific paper to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) about the difference between the Central and South American pit viper.
Later on, in 1917, she was selected as a Fellow of the Zoological Society, as the first woman to become a curator of reptiles at the London Zoo. So as she worked at the zoo, she got to interact a lot with the reptiles. Joan achieved many things and discovered a new species called the Peninsula Dragon Lizard from Australia.
She is a genius woman that always followed her dreams and never gave up on her passion. Procter gave so much value and care to the animals, especially reptiles and amphibians. She became an expert in handling large pythons, crocodiles, and she was the first person to recognize the Komodo dragon crocodile. Procter decided to adopt the Komodo as her pet.
Since Joan always spent a lot of time with reptiles, she was able to identify new diseases and invent new veterinary techniques to cure sick reptiles. Joan’s lifelong interest was amphibians and reptiles, so she kept continue working at the Zoological Society of London.
ZSL has stated, “She had the design of the reptile house with all of the structures, floor plans, exhibit details. She used all of her creativity to form the feature for the exhibit.” In the Reptile House, there are collection of reptiles, and amphibians such as snakes, lizards, frogs, and crocodiles. The Reptile House still exists today and is very popular.
Femmetek mentioned, “With all of Joan’s determination she spent the last years of her life for ZSL. She often came to work in a wheelchair fighting chronic health problems.”
Despite the huge challenge that her health provided, Joan Beauchamp Procter always followed her passion to discover new reptiles (Peninsula Dragon Lizard), and accomplished many great things in the field of zoology. .
Works Cited
“Herstory Thursdays: Joan Beauchamp Procter.” FemmeTek, femmetek.net/home/2017/4/6/herstory-thursdays-joan-beauchamp-procter.
“Joan Beauchamp Procter.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Jan. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Beauchamp_Procter.
“Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor, The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez.” , The Woman Who Loved Reptiles by Patricia Valdez, www.penguin.co.uk/ladybird/books/1116440/joan-procter-dragon-doctor/.
“ZSL Celebrates Dr Joan Procter for International Women’s Day.” Zoological Society of London (ZSL), www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/news/zsl-celebrates-dr-joan-procter-for-international-womens-day.
