Bridget Ogilvie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bridget Ogilvie
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Ogilvie in 1987
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Bridget Margaret Ogilvie
24 March 1938 Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia
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| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Awards | FRS DBE PhD |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Cambridge National Institute for Medical Research Wellcome Trust Zeneca Group plc Imperial College London |
| Thesis | Nippostrongylus braziliensis: a study of the life cycle and immunological response of the host (1964) |
Dame Bridget Margaret Ogilvie, born on March 24, 1938, is a very important Australian and British scientist. She is known for her amazing work in understanding how our bodies fight off tiny worms. She has also helped a lot to fund scientific research and make science education better for everyone.
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Early Life and Education
Bridget Ogilvie was born in 1938 in a place called Glen Innes, New South Wales, Australia. When she was in primary school, she had only one teacher and three other students in her class.
She went to the New England Girls' School in Armidale, New South Wales, and finished there in 1955. She then studied at the University of New England. She earned a special degree in Rural Science with top honors in 1960. Later, she received a scholarship to study at Girton College, Cambridge, in the United Kingdom. There, she earned her PhD for her research on a type of tiny worm called Nippostrongylus brasiliensis.
Her Amazing Career
In 1963, Bridget Ogilvie started working in the Parasitology department. Parasitology is the study of parasites, which are tiny living things that live on or inside other creatures. She worked at the Medical Research Council's National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR).
For many years, she studied how our bodies' immune responses fight against nematodes. Nematodes are also known as intestinal worms. She worked there until 1981.
Leading the Wellcome Trust
In 1981, she joined the Wellcome Trust, which is a very large charity that supports health research. She became its Director in 1991. She led the Wellcome Trust until she retired in 1998.
A big achievement during her time as Director was helping to create the Sanger Institute. This institute, located near Cambridge, is now known as the Wellcome Genome Campus. It is a world-famous center for studying genes and DNA.
Helping Science Research
When she was about to leave the Wellcome Trust in 1998, she convinced the government to work with the Wellcome Trust. Together, they created the Joint Infrastructure Fund. This fund helped improve university facilities for scientific research across the country.
Bridget Ogilvie also served on the main boards of big companies. She was on the board of Lloyds Bank from 1995 to 2000. She also served on the board of Zeneca, which later became AstraZeneca, from 1997 to 2006. She has received many special degrees from universities around the world. From 2001 to 2009, she held a special position at the University of Cambridge called High Steward.
Supporting Science Education
Bridget Ogilvie was the first chairperson of the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) Board. This group works to find new medicines for malaria. Even after she retired, she continued to be very active in helping people understand science. She also worked to improve science education.
She was a trustee for the Science Museum. She also chaired the AstraZeneca science teaching trust. She led groups like the COPUS and Techniquest, which aim to make science more accessible to the public. Since it started, she has been the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for Sense about Science. She is also a visiting professor at University College London.
Awards and Recognitions
In 1994, Bridget Ogilvie received the Kilgerran Prize from the Foundation for Science and Technology. In 1996, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This is a very high honor in the United Kingdom. In 2003, she was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). Being a Fellow of the Royal Society is a huge honor for scientists.
In 2007, she received Australia's highest civilian honor. She was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). This award recognized her great service to science, especially in studying parasites in animals and humans. It also honored her support for research funding to improve health around the world.
She is a member of the Advisory Council for the Campaign for Science and Engineering. In 2008, she was elected to the Australian Academy of Science. She is also an Honorary Fellow of St Edmund's College, Cambridge. She is an honorary member of the British Society for Immunology. In 2016, the Wellcome Sanger Institute named their new building after her to honor her contributions.
