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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women in physics | 2/6 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_physics | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T04:39:37.430832+00:00 | kb-cron |
=== Prizes only for female physicists === L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards, awarded bi-annually to one laureate per continent for outstanding contributions to the physical sciences. Maria Goeppert-Mayer Award of the American Physical Society awarded annually in recognition of an outstanding contribution to physics research. Jocelyn Bell Burnell Medal and Prize by the Institute of Physics in UK, for contributions to physics by a very early career physicist. Annie Jump Cannon Award in Astronomy awarded annually for outstanding contributions to astronomy within five years of earning a doctorate degree.
== Topics named after female scientists ==
Female scientist have sometimes not been recognized in the naming of topics they discovered due to Matilda effect. Some physics phenomena that are named after female scientists include:
=== Physical models and theories === Birge–Sponer method, in molecular physics, partially named after Hertha Sponer. Fermi–Pasta–Ulam–Tsingou problem in chaos theory, partially named after Mary Tsingou. Frenkel–Kontorova model, in non-linear physics, partially named after Tatiana Kontorova. Hopfield model, in atmospheric physics, is named after Helen Hopfield. Kachru–Kalosh–Linde–Trivedi mechanism, in string theory, is partially named after Renata Kallosh. Kovalevskaya top in rotational dynamics, named after Sofya Kovalevskaya. Peccei–Quinn theory in particle physics, partially named after Helen Quinn. Pöschl–Teller potential in quantum mechanics, partially named after Herta Pöschl. Randall–Sundrum model in theoretical physics, partially named after Lisa Randall. Falkner–Skan boundary layer in fluid mechanics, partially named after Sylvia Skan Van Vleck–Pauli–Morette determinant in quantum mechanics, partially named after Cécile DeWitt-Morette.
=== Physical phenomena and empirical laws === Faber–Jackson relation, in astronomomy, partially named after Sandra Faber. Goos–Hänchen effect in optics, partially named after Hilda Hänchen. Leavitt's law in astronomy, named after Henrietta Swan Leavitt. Pockels point in surface physics, named after Agnes Pockels. Rubin–Ford effect in cosmology, partially named after Vera Rubin.
=== Physical theorems === Bohr–Van Leeuwen theorem in thermodynamics, partially named after Hendrika Johanna van Leeuwen Byers–Yang theorem, in condensed matter physics, partially named after Nina Byers Coffman–Kundu–Wootters inequality, in quantum information, partially named after Valerie Coffman Noether's theorem in modern physics, named after Emmy Noether
=== Experiments and equipment === Langmuir–Blodgett film, partially named after Katharine Burr Blodgett Curie (unit), Ci, partially named after Marie Curie Morton number (dimensionless number), Mo, used to characterize bubbles is named after Rose Morton Goeppert Mayer (unit), GM, unit of absorption cross section named after Maria Goeppert Mayer Wu experiment named after Chien-Shiung Wu
== Timeline ==
=== Antiquity === c. 150 BCE: Aglaonice became the first female astronomer to be recorded in Ancient Greece. c. 355–415 CE: Greek astronomer, mathematician and philosopher, Hypatia became renowned as a respected academic teacher, editor of Ptolemy's Almagest astronomical data, and head of her own science academy.
=== 16th century === 1572: astronomer Sophia Brahe assists her older brother Tycho Brahe finding a new bright object in the night sky, now known as called SN 1572 (a supernova). Sophia would help her brother in astronomy throughout his life.
=== 17th century === 1650: astronomer Maria Cunitz publishes Urania Propitia. 1668: After separating from her husband, French polymath Marguerite de la Sablière established a popular salon in Paris. Scientists and scholars from different countries visited the salon regularly to discuss ideas and share knowledge, and Sablière studied physics, astronomy and natural history with her guests. 1680: Astronomer Jeanne Dumée published a summary of arguments supporting the Copernican theory of heliocentrism. She wrote "between the brain of a woman and that of a man there is no difference". 1690: astronomer Elisabeth Hevelius published Prodromus Astronomiae, compiling the star catalog of 1560 stars by her and her husband Johannes Hevelius. 1693–1698: German astronomer and illustrator Maria Clara Eimmart created more than 350 detailed drawings of the moon phases.
=== 18th century ===
1702: Maria Margaretha Kirch becomes the first woman to discover a comet. 1710: Due to her various contribution Maria Margaretha Kirch ask to enter the Royal Berlin Academy of Sciences. The request was denied. 1715: Eustachio Manfredi and his sisters Maddalena and Teresa Manfredi publish Ephemerides of Celestial Motion. The learning of the Manfredi sisters was acknowledged by Pope Benedict XIV. 1732: At the age of 20, Italian physicist Laura Bassi became the first female member of the Bologna Academy of Sciences. One month later, she publicly defended her academic theses and received a PhD. Bassi was awarded an honorary position as professor of physics at the University of Bologna. She was the first female physics professor in the world. 1738: French polymath Émilie du Châtelet became the first woman to have a paper published by the Paris Academy, following a contest on the nature of fire. 1740: Du Châtelet publishes Institutions de Physique, or Foundations of Physics, providing a metaphysical basis for Newtonian physics. 1751: 19-year-old Italian physicist Cristina Roccati received her PhD from the University of Bologna. 1755: Sculptor Jean-Jacques Caffieri makes a medallion of physicist Maria Angela Ardinghelli to be hung in French Academy of Sciences. The academy did not accept female members at the time. Ardinghelli worked as the main correspondent and translator between Paris and Naples in terms of physics discussions. 1757: Nicole-Reine Lepaute works out the return of Halley's Comet, in collaboration with Alexis Clairaut and Jérôme Lalande. 1776: At the University of Bologna, Italian physicist Laura Bassi became the first woman appointed as chair of physics at a university. 1789: astronomer Louise du Pierry becomes the first female professor at the Sorbonne. 1798: astronomer Wang Zhenyi writes various books on the equinoxes, the Moon motion and eclipses. 1798: Marie-Jeanne de Lalande and Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Meiningen are the only female astronomers in the first European congress of astronomers.