Athene Donald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Athene Donald
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Athene Donald in 2013
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| 7th Master of Churchill College, Cambridge | |
| In office 2014–2024 |
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| Preceded by | David Wallace |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Peacock |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Athene Margaret Griffith
15 May 1953 London, England |
| Residences | Cambridge, England |
| Education | Camden School for Girls |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge (BA, PhD) |
| Spouse(s) | Matthew J. Donald |
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| Scientific career | |
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| Thesis | Electron microscopy of grain boundary embrittled systems (1977) |
Dame Athene Margaret Donald DBE FRS HonFInstP (born May 15, 1953) is a famous British physicist. A physicist is a scientist who studies how the universe works, from tiny particles to huge galaxies. She was a Professor of Experimental Physics at the University of Cambridge. She also used to be the head of Churchill College, Cambridge.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Athene Margaret Griffith was born in London, England. She went to Camden School for Girls for her schooling. Later, she studied at the University of Cambridge. She earned a bachelor's degree in Natural Science, focusing on theoretical physics. In 1977, she completed her PhD. Her research was about how tiny structures in materials behave.
Research and Discoveries
After her PhD, Dame Athene Donald worked at Cornell University in the United States. There, she changed her focus from metals to polymers. Polymers are like long chains of molecules, such as plastics. In 1981, she returned to Cambridge. She became a Professor of Experimental Physics in 1998.
Her main area of study is called soft matter physics. This field looks at materials that are easily changed by heat or force. Think of things like gels, liquids, and even biological materials. She also studies Biophysics, which is about how physics applies to living things.
Dame Athene Donald used special microscopes, like the environmental scanning electron microscope, to study different systems. This included both man-made materials and biological ones. She looked closely at how proteins clump together, which is important for understanding some diseases.
Her work helped us understand how materials like polymers behave. She also studied starch, which is found in many foods. She used advanced X-ray techniques to see how starch changes when it's cooked. Her research helped connect the physics of materials to the study of biology. This led to new ways of understanding how proteins can fold incorrectly, which is linked to certain diseases.
Leading Roles and Contributions
Dame Athene Donald has held many important positions. From 1981 to 2014, she was a Fellow at Robinson College, Cambridge. In 2014, she became the Master of Churchill College. This is a big leadership role at one of Cambridge University's colleges. She was the head of Churchill College until 2024.
She was also a member of the Council of Cambridge University from 2009 to 2014. She served on the Council of the Royal Society, which is a very old and respected scientific organization. She also helped lead the education committee for the Royal Society. From 2015 to 2016, she was the President of the British Science Association. This group helps people learn about science. She also served as a Trustee for the Science Museum Group.
Championing Women in Science
Dame Athene Donald is a strong supporter of women in science. From 2006 to 2014, she directed WiSETI. This was a program at Cambridge University to help women in science, engineering, and technology. She was also the university's first Gender Equality Champion.
She has written a book called Not Just for the Boys: Why We Need More Women in Science. She often writes and speaks about why it's important to have more women in scientific fields. She has received awards for her work in promoting diversity in science.
Awards and Honors
In 1999, Dame Athene Donald was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for a scientist in the UK. She was recognized for her work on how the structure of polymers affects their strength.
She has received many other awards for her scientific achievements:
- 1983: Royal Society University Research Fellow
- 1989: Boys Prize of the Institute of Physics
- 1994: Inducted a Fellow of the American Physical Society
- 2005: Mott Medal of the Institute of Physics
- 2006: Bakerian Lecture of the Royal Society
- 2009: L'Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science award
- 2010: Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) by the Queen. This means she is now called "Dame."
- 2010: Institute of Physics Michael Faraday Medal and Prize
- 2011: UKRC Women of Outstanding Achievement's Lifetime Achievement Award
- She has also received many honorary doctorates from universities across the UK.
Personal Life
Dame Athene Donald is married to mathematician Matthew J. Donald. They got married in 1976. They have two children, a son and a daughter, and two grandchildren.
