Frances Arnold: The True Superhero of Evolution

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Superheroes often have one defining trait, a strength or characteristic that doesn’t just make them who they are, but also guides them in their approach to the challenges they face. Frances Arnold is a classic example of this trope; she was a rebellious figure from a very early age, but rarely a headstrong one, and her approach to challenges has always been to adapt rather than fight. In applying these methods to her work, she has successfully developed some of the most important innovations in modern biochemistry, with applications ranging from greatly accelerated pharmaceutical development to green aviation fuel. In the process, she has inspired countless scientists to follow in her highly adaptable True Superhero footsteps.

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The adaptable rebel

The rebellious traits that would serve Frances in such good stead were developed at an early age. As a child she was a voracious reader of books, ripping through her parents’ bookshelves and showing a particular interest in scientific and medical texts, but her teachers did not see a future for her in those fields. As Frances tells it: “No one knew what to do with a smart little girl in the 1960s… My brilliant success in elementary school got me into typing class.” 

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Young Frances enjoyed typing but it did not fulfill her intellectually and she grew increasingly disinterested in her education. There was enormous social upheaval happening outside the school gates and she wanted to be a part of it. By the age of 13, she was skipping school to hitchhike to Washington to participate in Vietnam War protests. The private girls’ school she had been sporadically attending let it be known that she was no longer invited to attend, and the public school she was moved to barely saw her. By the time she was 15, her parents gave Frances an ultimatum: shape up or move out. She moved out.

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