The Legacy of Rachel Carson

The Legacy of Rachel Carson

Rachel Louise Carson was born May 27, 1907 in Springsdale, Pennsylvania.  She grew up in rural Pennsylvania with an interest in nature and the living world from her mother. After receiving an MA in zoology from John Hopkins University in 1932, she was hired by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries to write radio scripts during the Depression. She also wrote articles for the Baltimore Sun on the side. She had a 15 year long career as a scientist and editor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Rachel wrote several books and pamphlets about the natural world and its conservation. Throughout all of her writing she emphasized that humans are just one part of nature with the exception that they have the power to alter it. This power should be used carefully because sometimes it can have irreversible damages. The biggest highlight of her career was the publication of the expose Silent Spring in 1962. She wanted to warn the public about the dangerous effects of chemical pesticides on the environment. She challenged the practices of agricultural scientists and the government. She was attacked by the government and the chemical industry, but Rachel refused to back down. She testified before Congress in 1963 for the creation of new policies to protect human health and the environment. Rachel died April 14, 1964 after a long battle with breast cancer, but her legacy still lives on today.