Betsy Ancker-Johnson facts for kids

Betsy Ancker-Johnson (born April 29, 1927 – died July 2, 2020) was an amazing American scientist. She was a plasma physicist. This means she studied a special state of matter called plasma. She was famous for her work on how plasmas behave in solid materials. She also invented a special device called a signal generator. This device used tiny parts called semiconductors.

Betsy Ancker-Johnson made history as the first woman chosen by the President to work in the U.S. Department of Commerce. She was also the fourth woman ever elected to the National Academy of Engineering. This is a very important group for engineers.

Early Life and Learning

Betsy Ancker was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Her birthday was April 29, 1927. Her parents, Clinton James and Fern Ancker, always encouraged her. They wanted her to follow her dreams and interests.

She went to Wellesley College and studied physics. She earned her first degree with high honors in 1949. She was also part of a special honor society called Phi Beta Kappa.

Later, she earned her PhD in Germany. She studied at the University of Tübingen and graduated in 1953. She earned her degree with "magnum cum laude," which means "with great praise."

Betsy also received several honorary degrees. These included science doctorates from the New York Polytechnic Institute and the University of Southern California. She also received a law doctorate from Bates College.

Her Amazing Career

After finishing her studies, Betsy Ancker-Johnson started her career. She worked as a researcher and teacher at the University of California, Berkeley. Then, she worked at companies like Sylvania Electric Products and Radio Corporation of America.

From 1961 to 1973, she was a professor at the University of Washington. During this time, she also worked at Boeing Science Research Laboratories. There, she studied plasma physics. She became a supervisor and manager of different science teams. She also spent time as a visiting scientist at Bell Labs.

In 1973, Betsy Ancker-Johnson made history. She became the Assistant Secretary for Science and Technology. This was a very important job in the US Department of Commerce. She was the first woman ever appointed by the President to this role.

After that, she became a director at Argonne National Laboratory. She led physics research there. Then, she became the first woman vice-president in the car industry. She worked for General Motors, leading their Environmental Activities Staff. While at General Motors, she also taught at UC Berkeley.

Betsy Ancker-Johnson was a very busy and smart scientist. She wrote over 70 scientific papers. She also received many patents for her inventions.

Her Family Life

Betsy Ancker-Johnson was married to Hal Johnson. They had four children together. Their names were Ruth, David, Paul, and Martha.

Awards and Recognitions

Betsy Ancker-Johnson received many honors for her work.

• She became a Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering in 1975.
• She was also a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
• She was a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
• She was a Member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Her achievements are also recognized in the Notable Women in Computing cards.

See also

In Spanish: Betsy Ancker-Johnson para niños