Dorothy Jung Echols

Dorothy Jung Echols (September 9, 1916 – February 4, 1997) was an American geologist known for her significant contributions to the field of micropaleontology and her instrumental role in the Deep Sea Drilling Project. She also held a distinguished position as a professor for the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. She was well known for her work in geology and was active in the geoscience community until her death in 1997.

Biography
Echols although born in The Bronx, grew up and attended high school in Brooklyn where she was asked about what her career aspirations were, to which she responded with “I like minerals”. She later became a prominent figure in geology for her time, making contributions in the Petroleum industry and later teaching as a professor in the department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. During her career as a teacher she taught an introductory level course that was called Geology in the field, which consisted of weekend field trips throughout Missouri. Along with advanced and introductory paleontology courses. She impacted her students greatly and managed to connect with them as well. Echols received her Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from New York University in 1936 and graduated with distinction, where she also served as the captain of the Varsity Swim team from 1934 to 1935. She was also a member of the Women's Swimming Association, receiving the Florence Frankel medal for displaying excellence in swimming. She later went on to receive her master's degree in Geology from Columbia University in 1938. After getting her master’s degree in 1938, she moved to Texas, hoping to get a job. Eventually, in 1938 she got a job at Republic Production Company and worked there for three years as a Paleontologist as well as a Micropaleontologist.

In 1941, she married Leonard S. Echols and moved to New York. Together, they had four children: Leonard S. Echols III, Jon Jung Echols, Lizette DePue Echols, and William Ring Echols. Leonard was a research chemist working for Shell(Oil company). In 1942, they then moved to St. Louis and built their home. During 1946 to 1951, Echols became a geologic consultant for Pond Fork (Oil and gas company). Echols worked as a Laboratory Instructor for the Washington University in the Department of Geology in 1948. In 1951, Echols was hired as a research associate in the department to fill the position that her colleague, Betty Nadeau had filled prior. Her husband Leonard passed away in 1963 and was a chief engineer for shell. She continued to teach at the university until 1982, where she later retired from her position. During her career at the Washington University, she served as thesis advisor and was a chair member on multiple doctoral committees even though she never received a doctorate. Other than her contributions in Geo-science, her legacy included being an exceptional teacher. Later that year, Echols received the Neil A. Miner Award from the National Association of Geology Teachers which is awarded to exceptional individuals that promote interest in earth sciences. She was the first woman ever elected president of the Geological Society of America. In January 1997, she was diagnosed with lung cancer which caused her death on February 4, 1997.

Early life and background
Echols's upbringing in The Bronx and later Brooklyn played a pivotal role in shaping her personality. Growing up in a bustling urban environment, Echols always displayed an innate curiosity for the natural world. This was evident when she expressed her love for minerals at a young age. Her participation in swimming not only showcased her determination but also highlighted her ability to balance both academic and extracurricular pursuits, a trait she carried into her professional life.

Her formative years instilled in her a fascination with the intricacies of the natural world, setting the foundation for her future in geology. Her early expression of interest in minerals hinted at her natural inclination towards earth sciences. Beyond her academic interests, Echols was an active swimmer, demonstrating an early knack for discipline and resilience—qualities that would later define her scientific career. Her ability to excel in both scholastic and athletic endeavors from a young age foreshadowed her multifaceted talents and her future ability to navigate the challenges of being a pioneer in a male-dominated field.

Contributions to geology
Echols became involved in the petroleum industry from 1938 to 1946 which led her to work on the Deep Sea Drilling Project. During this time Echols was one of the few female geologist working in the petroleum industry. The Deep Sea Drilling Project, which gathered information that would help determine the age and processes of ocean basins, consulted her as shipboard Sedimentologist. In 1948 Echols explained Wilcox’s relationship with the Midway sea through time. Additionally, she found where and discovered that the petroleum deposits were so rich in that area due to the surrounding materials (basal sand, shale, etc.), and the interaction of these surrounding materials with one another. These interactions allowed for the petroleum to seep into the sands and become trapped in an impenetrable seal of rock. In addition, much of her career was spent in the field of micropaleontology, specializing in microfossils. Prior to American publication Echols was published in three Russian publications with her discovery of new Paleozoic Ostracode genera and species. These reports reclassified many species discovered in Russia as well as contained depictions and reclassifications of previously discovered genera and species. Echols was published in three separate reports in 1952, Netskaia A. I., Polinova E. N. and Zaspelova V. S. Afterwards, she published an article in the Micropaleontology magazine, titled "Chalk crayons and microfossil contamination" alongside Harold L. Levin, first published on January 1, 1964. In May 1966 Echols discovered that holotypes previously classified as Cephalopoda were structurally incompatible with this classification. She claimed they should rather be placed in the Monoplacophora based on cross-sectioning completed on fossils in the area. She found conclusive evidence that no specimen collected indicated any structures evident of being classified a Cephalopoda. In 1956, Echols pioneered the idea that Ostracod carapaces moved during Fern Glen Formation because of currents moving over shallow areas. This study was a vital foundation for further research. In 1961, Echols was involved in the discovery of an extinct species of Trilobite from the Kimmswick Limestone found in Missouri. The image to the left shows two Paleontologists, Echols and Murlene Clark aboard a Drilling vessel during the deep sea drilling project which lasted from 1968 to 1983. The project provided knowledge of biostratigraphic data about sediments underground, which provided an estimated paleontological age for many unusual sediments underneath. And among them was Echols who worked in the petroleum industry as a geologist and paleontologist, studying microfossils and she was one of the few female geologists working in that era.

In a pivotal 1948 publication co-authored with Doris S. Malkin, 'Wilcox (Eocene) Stratigraphy, a Key to Production,' Echols expanded the understanding of Eocene stratigraphy and its implications for petroleum geology. Their work dissected the complex sedimentation patterns and stratigraphic sequences of the Wilcox Group, a significant geological formation known for its hydrocarbon potential. By interpreting the regional deltaic sedimentation and the stratigraphic history, they highlighted the productive sands in the Wilcox fields that span Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, mapping out the trends that informed petroleum production up until 1945. This research not only contributed to the academic field but also had practical applications, influencing exploration and extraction strategies in the industry. Echols' ability to connect geological understanding with practical outcomes underscored her role as a leading figure in integrating scientific research with industry applications

Challenges as a woman in geology
Echols, as one of the few women in geology during the mid-20th century, faced significant challenges. In an era where the field was predominantly male, her determination and expertise led her to make substantial contributions, particularly in petroleum geology and micropaleontology. Her involvement in groundbreaking projects like the Deep Sea Drilling Project highlighted her skills and resilience in overcoming the gender biases prevalent in her field. Her legacy is not only in her scientific achievements but also in paving the way for future generations of women geologists.

Contribution to the Deep Sea Drilling Project


Echols pioneered The Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP), which was an ambitious scientific endeavor aimed at exploring the composition and structure of the Earth's oceanic crust by drilling and coring deep below the ocean floor. Initiated in 1968, the project was the first of its kind to provide extensive direct sampling of deep ocean basins. This was an immense leap forward in the field of oceanography and geology, as it offered unprecedented insights into Earth's geological past, including the history of its oceans, the development of its crust, and the processes that govern plate tectonics.

The project used the drilling vessel Glomar Challenger to recover samples of sediment and basaltic crust from various depths and locations across the world's oceans. These samples were crucial for testing and confirming theories like plate tectonics and sea-floor spreading. The project revealed the age and distribution of oceanic crust and provided evidence for past climate conditions by examining sediment layers.

Echols's role as a sedimentologist and micropaleontologist in this project involved analyzing the recovered cores for microfossil content — which includes the remains of tiny organisms such as foraminifera, diatoms, and coccolithophores. Such microfossils are invaluable in dating the sediments and reconstructing past environmental conditions, thus aiding in the understanding of Earth's climatic and geological history.

The DSDP was foundational in establishing the field of paleoceanography — the study of ocean history through geology and paleontology. It set the stage for subsequent scientific ocean drilling programs, continuing to expand our knowledge of the Earth's subsurface conditions and history.

Echols's expertise in microfossils — the minute remains of organisms that lived in past geologic ages — enabled her to contribute to the field's understanding of how these tiny creatures' distribution and composition could indicate the presence and locations of petroleum reserves. Her insights helped shape the scientific community's understanding of sediment deposition and stratigraphic sequences, which are vital for hydrocarbon exploration.

Her efforts in the Deep Sea Drilling Project also contributed to a broader understanding of paleo-oceanography — the study of the history of the oceans in the geological past, with implications for both scientific research and the petroleum industry. Echols's ability to work on the cutting edge of geological research, coupled with her pioneering spirit as one of the few women in her field at the time, left a durable mark on the sciences of micropaleontology and sedimentology.

Awards and achievements
Echols was known for her presence on the deep sea drilling project making her one of the first female geologist working in the petroleum field. Later on she was listed as a noteworthy geological consultant by Marquis who's who.

In 1979 during her later years she and a close friend of hers Doris Malkin Curtis who had also participated in the deep sea drilling project created a geological consulting firm. This consulting firm was made to help with mapping out deposition which helped understand and locate hydrocarbons. The firm was named, 'Curtis and Echols'.

In 1982, the year she retired she received the Neil A Miner award from the National association of Geology teachers for her "exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the earth sciences....". Her passionate teaching of graduate and undergraduate courses resulted in her students becoming responsible members of geological professions.

This award is presented annually to recognize exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth sciences, as well as for significant contributions to the fields of geology, geophysics, or earth science education. Receiving the Neil A. Miner Award is a testament to Echols's extensive contributions to earth sciences, both through her research and her dedication to teaching and inspiring future generations of geologists.

The award acknowledged not only her groundbreaking work in the field but also her passion for education, as evidenced by her influential teaching career at Washington University in St. Louis. Her commitment to advancing the understanding of Earth’s geological processes and her role as a mentor to students in geology solidified her reputation as a leading figure in geological education.

Publications
Echols published many pieces of writing throughout her years studying and teaching geology at schools in America. Some of her most influential pieces are listed below. In 1958, Echols along with Courtney Werner, wrote a journal of what they have studied and identified in the Maquoketa shale of Missouri. What they've found in their work was a light brown coloured shale which contained a varied fauna that lied deep within it. This included ostracizes, bryozoans, brachiopods, conodonts, pelecypods and quantities of pieces of unpressed and completely replaced graptolites that were unusually preserved beneath it. The unpressed graptolites belonged to the genus Climacograptus and possibly the Climacograptus putillus Hall.

In 1956, Echols took part in writing a journal called the Journal of Paleontology, specifically written in volume 30. She worked with other writers; John J. Gouty on Fern Glen (Mississippian) Ostracoda, Bruce L. Stinchcomb on Missouri Upper Cambrian Monoplacophora previously considered cephalopods, and Werner on Three Dimensional Graptolites in the Maquoketa Shale (Upper Ordovician) of Missouri. The writings in the journal describes the journey and findings of Echols on the trips she took, her findings being animal fossils located in their original habitats. She was also able to collect samples of different rocks as well. Echols and Gouty wrote in depth about their studies in fern glen (Mississippian) Ostracoda. They sectioned the land into 4 pieces allowing them to go deeper in research and collect sedimentary samples and within were Ostracods. Echols and Stinchcomb found a fossil locality where the animal's original location was. The structure of the fossils seemed to have cone-shaped forms and seemed to be curved.