Alice Johnson (zoologist) facts for kids

Alice Johnson (born July 7, 1860 – died January 13, 1940) was an amazing English scientist. She studied animals, especially newts, and was known as a zoologist. She also worked for a group called the Society for Psychical Research.

Life and Education

Alice Johnson was born in Cambridge, England. Her father, William Henry Farthing Johnson, was a school master. Her brother, William Ernest Johnson, became a famous thinker.

Alice went to school in Cambridge and Dover. In 1878, she started studying at Newnham College. This college was for women in Cambridge.

A Pioneer in Science

In 1881, Alice did very well in her science exams. She got top marks in Natural Sciences. At that time, women were not allowed to officially earn a degree from Cambridge University. Even so, her achievements were clear.

Alice became the first leader of the Balfour Biological Laboratory for Women. This was a special lab for women scientists. From 1884 to 1890, she also taught about animal shapes there.

She continued her studies with important scientists. These included Francis Maitland Balfour and, later, Adam Sedgwick.

Studying Newts

Alice Johnson's research focused on how animals grow. She spent a lot of time studying the early development of the newt. Newts are small, lizard-like animals that live in water.

In 1884, she made history. She published a scientific paper in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. This was the first time a woman's paper appeared in this important journal. She also worked with Lilian Sheldon on a study. They looked at how nerves in the heads of newt embryos developed.

Work with the Society for Psychical Research

In 1890, Alice became a helper for Eleanor Mildred Sidgwick. Eleanor was a key person in the Society for Psychical Research (SPR). This group studied things like mind reading and ghosts.

Alice became the secretary for the SPR from 1903 to 1907. She then worked as a research officer for the group until 1916.

• She helped with experiments about thought transference. These were called the "Brighton experiments."
• Alice also worked on a big study called the "Census of Hallucinations." This looked at people's experiences with seeing or hearing things that weren't there.
• She helped finish a book by Frederic W. H. Myers. The book was called Human Personality and Its Survival of Bodily Death. Myers had died before he could finish it.

Alice left the SPR in 1917.

College Life and Later Years

Eleanor Sidgwick became the head of Newnham College in 1892. Alice worked as her secretary there until 1903. Alice was also connected to the college as an associate from 1893 to 1902.

Alice Johnson passed away in Cambridge in 1940. She was 79 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Alice Johnson para niños