Berta Scharrer facts for kids

Berta Vogel Scharrer (born December 1, 1906, died July 23, 1995) was an American scientist. She was a pioneer in a field called neuroendocrinology. This science studies how the brain and hormones work together. Her important discoveries helped us understand how the body's systems communicate.

Her Early Life and Studies

Berta Vogel was born in Munich, Germany. Her father was a high-ranking judge. She studied at the University of Munich. There, she earned her Ph.D. She worked with Professor Karl von Frisch. He later won a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his studies on bees.

Moving to the United States

Berta Scharrer and her husband, Ernst Scharrer, had to leave Germany. They moved to the United States in 1937. They arrived with very little money. Even though it was hard for women scientists to get jobs back then, Berta kept working.

Her Amazing Career

In 1955, Berta Scharrer became a professor. She taught at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. This is a medical school at Yeshiva University. She made big contributions to neuroendocrinology. This field looks at how the nervous system and hormones interact. She also helped with neuroimmunology. This is the study of how the brain and the immune system affect each other. Even in her last years, she published many scientific papers. She also helped edit a science journal.

Her Personal Life

Berta Vogel married Ernst Scharrer in 1934. They met while studying together. They became U.S. citizens in 1945. Sadly, Ernst died in 1965. They did not have any children.

Honors and Awards

Berta Scharrer received many awards for her work.

• In 1967, she was chosen as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
• She received honorary degrees from several universities. One was from Harvard in 1982.
• She was even nominated for a Nobel Prize. This was for her new research on brain chemicals.
• In 1983, President Reagan gave her the National Medal of Science. This is a very high honor for scientists in the U.S. She earned it for showing how important neurosecretion and neuropeptides are. These are chemicals that help animals function and grow.

Her Lasting Impact

Berta Scharrer studied many animals without backbones. She especially studied cockroaches. Her work was so important that a type of cockroach was named after her. It is called the Escala scharrerae. This cockroach is found in Australia. She was also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. She received the Schleiden Medal in 1983. Berta Scharrer continued her research and teaching until she retired in 1995. She passed away five months later at age 88.

See also

In Spanish: Berta Vogel Scharrer para niños