Re: Your scientist daughter
Education.
If she met someone good she would like to marry, I would encourage her to at least complete a significant amount of the degree before marriage, and go into marriage with a clear understanding with her husband about whether or not she wants to complete the degree and whether or not she wants to work.
People will always criticize when others invest in their daughters in away that is anything but material and superficial (you can go to the salon 10 times in a week and spend as much as you want, but 10 sessions of a class -- no way!). Obviously not everyone thinks like this; and you just have to learn to ignore the people who do. We know they're wrong. They've chosen their path, you choose your own.