A marine biologist who became well known as a writer and conservationist, Rachel Louise Carson (1907–1964) authored books that helped ignite the global environmental movement.

Carson was born and raised in Springdale, Allegheny County, and attended Pennsylvania College for Women—now Chatham University—in Pittsburgh. She began her career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and gained recognition through her meticulously researched and engaging writing on nature. Her highly successful 1951 book The Sea Around Us established her worldwide fame as a scientist and writer.

But it was her 1962 international bestseller Silent Spring that marked a turning point in public awareness of environmental issues. It warned of the dangers of misusing chemical pesticides, particularly DDT, on ecosystems and human health, and it sparked a national debate.

Despite fierce opposition from powerful interests, Carson’s work led to policy changes, and her advocacy contributed to the eventual creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Long after her death from cancer, Rachel Carson remains a symbol of courage and environmental advocacy.