Bertha Swirles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bertha Swirles
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Bertha Swirles in 1962
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| Born | 22 May 1903 Northampton, England
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| Died | 18 December 1999 (aged 96) |
| Nationality | English |
| Alma mater | Girton College, University of Cambridge |
| Spouse(s) | Harold Jeffreys |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Quantum physics Mathematics education |
| Institutions | Girton College, University of Cambridge |
| Doctoral advisor | Max Born Ralph Howard Fowler |
Bertha Swirles, also known as Lady Jeffreys, was an English scientist. She was a physicist, a university teacher, and a writer of science books. Bertha did important research on quantum theory when it was a new field. She spent more than 70 years at Girton College at the University of Cambridge. She was first a student there, and later a Fellow (a senior member of the college).
Contents
About Bertha Swirles
Early Life and Education
Bertha Swirles was born in Northampton in 1903. Her mother, Harriett, was a primary school teacher. Her father, William, sold leather.
Bertha went to Northampton School For Girls. In 1921, she started studying mathematics at Girton College. She graduated with top honors.
Becoming a Quantum Physicist
Bertha became a research student in quantum theory. She studied at the University of Cambridge with Ralph Fowler. Other famous students of his included Paul Dirac. She also did research in Germany at the University of Göttingen. There, she worked with important scientists like Max Born and Werner Heisenberg.
Bertha earned her PhD in 1929. By then, she was already teaching at the University of Manchester. She also taught at the University of Bristol and Imperial College in London.
Return to Cambridge and Later Career
In 1938, Bertha returned to Girton College. She became a mathematics lecturer and a Fellow. She continued her research in quantum theory. She also started studying seismology, which is the study of earthquakes.
In 1949, she became the Director of Studies for Mathematics at Girton. She held this role until 1969. In this job, she helped women learn and succeed in mathematics. She also held other important positions at the college. From 1966 to 1969, she was the Vice-Mistress.
Personal Life
In 1940, Bertha married Harold Jeffreys, who was also a mathematician. When he was knighted in 1953, she became Lady Jeffreys.
Bertha loved music. She was a talented pianist and cellist. She passed away in Cambridge in 1999.
Achievements and Recognition
Bertha Swirles was a respected scientist and educator.
- She was the president of the Mathematical Association in 1969.
- She received special honorary degrees from the Open University and the University of Saskatchewan.
- In 2016, the University of Cambridge named a student housing area "Swirles Court" after her. This area has 325 rooms for graduate students.
See also
In Spanish: Bertha Swirles para niños
