College of Arts & Sciences

Kelsey DeAngelis

College of Arts & Sciences

Undeclared Major

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lloyd T.

Ackert History

Jennifer Vess Co-Mentor

Ruth Patrick, “the Patrick Principle” and its Impact on Industrial Environmentalism, 1950-1980

Ruth Patrick’s innovative and collaborative ideas, truly set her apart from the other scientists in her field, and allowed her to make a true impact on the scientific and corporate understanding of the industry’s impact on fresh bodies of water. This type of understanding, that Patrick, introduced coined the term “The Patrick Principle.” Her combination of natural history and ecology lead her to develop new ideas and apply them to the current issues of her time. She studied fossilized diatoms and the biodiversity of the Great Salt Lake which lead to her discovery that diatoms determined the type of pollution in fresh bodies of water. This discovery prompted her to invent the diatometer in 1945, which is an instrument used to determine the presence of diatoms in fresh bodies of water. Apart from being one of the only women to create such a revolutionary invention, what really set her apart was her ability to partner with large corporations, a skill her peers did not possess. Dr. Patrick’s creativity and communication skills allowed her to educate industries, such as DuPont, about pollutants from industries and its negative impact on fresh bodies of water.