Like many others with inquisitive minds, Lynn Margulis often described herself as a bad student who had to stand in the corner of her classroom a lot because she could never do what she was supposed to do. While she hated structured education, an extremely relatable fact to many of us,  Lynn Margulis loved to learn and would only attend classes because they weren’t required of her. 

She has an impressive record of education, amounting in being recognised as one of the 50 most important women in science in 2002 by Discover magazine.

Infographic illustrating Lynn Margulis’ Education and Career (Infographic by Author)

Throughout her education and career, Margulis demonstrated an extraordinary understanding of the world around her. Typically, great achievements are the result of many years of experience and hard work. But, in the case of Lynn Margulis, her unique way of thinking combined with fortuitous circumstances resulted in discoveries during her doctoral research that majority of scientists do not achieve in a lifetime and which quickly launched her career in biology.