History Moment: Picturing Women Inventors

By Sunday, April 2, 2023
Main article image for story titled 'History Moment: Picturing Women Inventors'The word “inventor” brings to mind images of men like Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell, but inventors come from every demographic and segment of society. The stories of inventive women often have been overlooked, undervalued, and sometimes lost, not least because they have lacked the support and backing necessary to secure patents and develop inventions into marketable products or services. In mid-2019, both houses of Congress held hearings on what lawmakers called the “lost Einsteins,” looking at gender gaps in science, engineering, technology, and invention. Patricia Bath, inventor of a surgical instrument for cataract removal, testified: “The pipeline for increasing women scientists and engineers begins by igniting the spark for learning and curiosity.” Academic research has confirmed the importance of role models in inspiring invention among girls while also pointing out that, at current rates, it will take more than a century to reach gender parity with male inventors. 1

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Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh currently serves as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia to the United States. He previously served as Liberia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, with concurrent accreditation to Benin and Equatorial Guinea, and as Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, where he chaired both the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Mediation and Security Council at the ambassadorial level.

A distinguished academic and university leader, Dr. Conteh served as President of the University of Liberia from 2004 to 2008 and more recently as Acting President from June 2024 to January 2025.  He has held senior academic and administrative roles, including Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of the Demographic Unit, and Project Director for post-conflict curriculum development in collaboration with the U.S. Institute of Peace and California State University.  Dr. Conteh’s academic contributions span conflict studies, population and development, and childhood mortality, with publications in leading journals.

Dr. Conteh holds a Ph.D. in Regional Science and Demography from the University of Pennsylvania, and advanced degrees from the UN Cairo Demographic Center and University of Liberia. His honors include the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa, Doctor of Humane Letters, Fulbright scholar and UNFPA Fellow.

He remains an ardent subscriber to peace, democracy, patriotism, and the promotion of sustainable human development in Liberia, Africa and beyond.

Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh currently serves as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Liberia to the United States. He previously served as Liberia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, with concurrent accreditation to Benin and Equatorial Guinea, and as Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, where he chaired both the Permanent Representatives Committee and the Mediation and Security Council at the ambassadorial level.

A distinguished academic and university leader, Dr. Conteh served as President of the University of Liberia from 2004 to 2008 and more recently as Acting President from June 2024 to January 2025. He has held senior academic and administrative roles, including Vice President for Academic Affairs, Director of the Demographic Unit, and Project Director for post-conflict curriculum development in collaboration with the U.S. Institute of Peace and California State University. Dr. Conteh’s academic contributions span conflict studies, population and development, and childhood mortality, with publications in leading journals.

Dr. Conteh holds a Ph.D. in Regional Science and Demography from the University of Pennsylvania, and advanced degrees from the UN Cairo Demographic Center and University of Liberia. His honors include the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of Africa, Doctor of Humane Letters, Fulbright scholar and UNFPA Fellow.

He remains an ardent subscriber to peace, democracy, patriotism, and the promotion of sustainable human development in Liberia, Africa and beyond.

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