A mountain climber, author, scientist, lobbyist, inspirational speaker and mother spoke to nearly 60 attendees today in the University Library Gallery.

Dr. Arlene Blum is an individual who’s involved in all those roles.

Blum has scaled to the summits of countless mountains throughout the world and written books about her adventures, such as “Breaking Trails: A Climbing Life.” Breaking trails is a term for one plowing thorough heavy, deep snow.

At age 25, she was the assistant leader of an all women, six member team, which ascended to the top of Denali. It’s the highest peak in North America, over 20,000 feet, and part of Alaska’s Mt. McKinley. Blum was elevated to the leader position after the original leader became unconscious because of altitude sickness. She and the rest of the team had to drag the limp body while descending the mountain.

Additionally, Blum has led the first all women American team to ascend Annapurna I, one of the world’s highest summits. It is over 26,000 feet and is located in Nepal’s Himalayas. She was also the first woman to attempt to climb Mt. Everest, which is part of the Himalayan range spanning the countries of Nepal, Tibet and China. Having climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in the east African nation of Tanzania is on her list of accomplishments, too.

She has been a trail blazer in academia as well.

In the 1960’s, she was one of four women who received a doctorate in chemistry, Blum said.

In the past, Blum has persuaded the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban brominated TRIS, a chemical put into children’s sleepwear to make the items flame retardant. It was causing cancer in the kids.

Today, she continues working as a scientist and lobbyist.

Blum attempts to influence the California legislature, as well as the world, about the toxic effects of the cancer causing chemical, PBDE. It is added to the polyurethane foam in furniture to make it fire retardant. The PBDE toxin is found in dust, dryer lint, meat and fish. In fact, her black cat named Midnight, has lost over half its weight and has been diagnosed as having thyroxin, which has a similar structure as the PBDE toxin.

Blum’s theme for today was vision.

“Having a vision, believing in your vision, getting people to share it and making the world a better place,” said Blum.

Blum said of all her adventures, if she could only choose one thing, it would be motherhood.

She is a single mother. Her 21-year-old daughter, Annalise is a sophomore environmental engineering major at Stanford University.

The whole audience was in awe after Blum gave her slide presentation.

“I was very impressed that someone could lead a fascinating life and be at incredible ends of the spectrum. Also, to have the time to devote oneself to scholarship and to raising a family,” said Tabzeera Dosu, the new university library dean.

Friends of the Library member Nina Nelson said “we must be persistent and not be shut down by the powerful government or companies.”

Another member, Charles Vento, was also moved that Blum is so dedicated to the cause and is very athletic.

Blum was invited as a visiting author by the Friends of the Library in celebration of National Library Week and was the keynote speaker for the group’s annual meeting, said Sally Hitchcock, university library outreach coordinator.

For more information, visit Blum’s website, www.arleneblum.com.