The First Door Opened: Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu

In 1912, Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu became the first female engineer, but it started

with rejection. Romanian universities said no, so she moved to Berlin where

they finally said yes. She graduated top of her class, then returned home

to work in chemical laboratories. During the war, she managed entire labs while others

doubted her technical abilities. Her research modernized mining, yet her story

remained largely forgotten for many decades. Today, she is remembered as a pioneer

who broke barriers through the door and history.