Aleksandra Kornhauser Frazer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aleksandra Kornhauser Frazer
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| Born |
Aleksandra Caleari
26 September 1926 Slovenia, Serbia-Croatia-Slovenia
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| Died | 17 May 2020 (aged 93) Slovenia
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
Aleksandra Kornhauser Frazer (born September 26, 1926, died May 17, 2020) was a famous Slovenian chemist. She taught chemistry as a professor at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. She also led the International Centre for Chemical Studies there.
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Early Life and Challenges
Aleksandra Caleari was born into a wealthy family. Her father owned a company in Škofja Loka. However, her family lost their money during the Great Depression in the 1930s. This meant she grew up in a much poorer home.
When she was 15, in 1940, World War II began. She started a youth group to help partisans, who were fighters resisting the occupation. Her father was held in a camp, and her family faced very tough times. Luckily, they all survived the war.
After the war, she briefly taught in schools. In 1948, she went to university to study chemistry. This was the start of her amazing scientific journey.
A Career in Chemistry and Beyond
Research and Innovation
From 1954 to 1980, Aleksandra Frazer did a lot of research. She studied alkaloids and antibiotics for drug companies. These are important chemicals used in medicines.
After 1980, she combined her research with teaching. She also worked as a researcher for big international groups. These included the EU, UNDP, UNESCO, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
She was very interested in promoting clean technologies. These are ways to create things without harming the environment. In 1999, she made history. She was the first woman scientist to win the Honda Prize in Tokyo. This award recognized her important work in clean technology.
Leadership and Public Service
In the 1960s and 1970s, Aleksandra was also active in politics. She became the vice president of the Executive Council of Slovenia. In this role, she was in charge of health, culture, science, and education. After three years, she decided to go back to teaching and research at the university.
She worked with universities in Switzerland, the UK, and the US. In Slovenia, she organized over 60 international meetings and workshops. She was a member of important groups like the United Nations Council and the World Academy of Art and Science. She also received several awards, including the Laurent Lavoisier Medal.
Aleksandra continued to work until she was 90 years old. She was the dean of the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School. In 1997, she received the Zois Prize. This is the highest award for science in Slovenia. She was also made an honorary citizen of Ljubljana.
Personal Life
Aleksandra Frazer was married twice. Her first husband was Pavle Kornhauser, a doctor from Slovenia. Her second husband was Malcolm Frazer, a British chemist. He was a professor and later led a national academic council. She chose to keep both of her husbands' last names. She passed away in May 2020, at the age of 93.
