Rachel Carson was a marine biologist and author of 24 books whose writings are credited with advancing the environmental movement. Carson’s most iconic book, Silent Spring, was published in 1962 about the environmental harm caused by the use of pesticides and how chemical industries were spreading misinformation. Thanks to Carson’s writings, a United States pesticide policy was reversed, which resulted in DDT being banned nationwide for agricultural purposes. Her writings also led to the creation of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter. In 2012, Silent Spring was designated a National Historic Chemical Landmark by American Chemical Society for its role in developing the modern environmental movement.