As a child she wanted to be a fashion designer. In college she wanted to be a doctor. Stephanie Kwolek would end up making clothes, but not the kind she had expected. She'd also end up saving lives, but not in a hospital.

Stephanie started out studying chemistry because she was unable to afford medical school. She was later invited for a job interview with DuPont, the multi-national chemicals and health care company. Needless to say, she got the job.

After that interview things started getting really interesting…

Being the clever bunny that she is, it took her no time to evaluate the box thinking in DuPont. She decided to venture into the unknown and push the boundaries a wee bit.

After immersing herself in billows of coloured fumes and bubbling pots for days on end, she emerged with a triumphant “Tadaa!” and a test tube of liquid crystalline polymer solution.

This liquid had more “oomph” than your normal dosage of gummy berry juice and showed exceptional strength and stiffness. It was the secret ingredient needed to invent Kevlar – a synthetic material five times as strong as steel.

There aren’t many things that Kevlar can’t do. You could probably jump out of a burning building, after being shot in the chest and still be fine (Not to be put to test - only a hypothesis based on the characteristics of Kevlar!).

Kevlar is the superman of materials – resistant to wear, corrosion and flames. It’s the main ingredient in bulletproof vests (saving legions of soldiers and law enforcement officers every year) and used in dozens of products, including skis, safety helmets and camping gear and suspension bridge cables. This lady is responsible for a whole lotta safety all around!

Kwolek is now retired. She has (obviously) won many awards and honours for her work and was included in the National Inventors Hall of Fame . She now spends her time actively promoting science and science education.

You go, girl!