Joan loved reptiles ever since she was a little girl. My research also led me to Joan’s writings (scientific articles and book chapters) and to the archive collection of Girton College in Cambridge, where I found letters, photos, and paintings, all of which revealed Joan as a witty, clever, and sharp woman of her time. Newspapers often ran sensational stories of this young woman who tamed dragons. Though her name was unfamiliar to me and others, Joan was well-loved and well-respected by the scientific community when she lived. Joan spent her entire life in London, England, so my research started with subscriptions to British newspapers, including The Times. Of course, my curiosity was piqued for several reasons: first, women barely had the right to vote in the 1920s second, women scientists were rare at that time and third, anyone working with Komodo dragons when the world knew little about them had to be interesting! The woman who tamed dragons It stated that Joan Beauchamp Procter was the first person to describe Komodo dragons in captivity in the 1920s. At the very bottom of one of the articles, one sentence jumped out at me. A few years ago, I decided to look up some information about the Western world’s discovery of these animals on the tiny Indonesian island of Komodo. The Zoo’s Komodo dragon, Murphy, is a favorite of my family. The clue that led me to Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor started with the National Zoo in Washington D.C.
Sometimes you might find a clue, and that clue might lead you to an amazing story. It’s unavoidable.īut the stories behind the discoveries are not always known or appreciated. Whether we realise it or not, we encounter science every day. Here's why Patricia Valdez wrote a children's book about an incredible female scientist from 100 years ago, who really loved reptiles.Īs a scientist and author, I’m always on the lookout for inspiring stories of scientific discovery. Forgotten women: meet Joan Procter, the amazing dragon doctor
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