Cécile Butticaz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cécile Butticaz
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Cécile Butticaz, from a 1907 publication.
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| Born | 2 July 1884 Geneva
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| Died | 1 June 1966 Geneva
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| Nationality | Swiss |
| Occupation | Engineer |
Cécile Butticaz (born July 2, 1884, in Geneva, Switzerland; died June 1, 1966, in Geneva) was a pioneering Swiss engineer. She is often known as Cécile Biéler or Cécile Biéler-Butticaz after her marriage. Cécile Butticaz is considered the first woman in Europe to become an electrical engineer, earning her diploma in 1907.
Early Life and Education
Cécile Butticaz was born in 1884 in Geneva. Her father, Constant Butticaz, was a factory director.
Cécile was a very bright student. She first studied at the University of Geneva. Later, she attended EPFL, a famous engineering university in Switzerland. She was the first woman to graduate from EPFL. In 1907, she earned her diploma in electrical engineering. This made her the first woman in Europe to achieve this.
Years later, in 1929, she earned a doctorate in physics from the University of Geneva. For her doctorate, she researched invar. Invar is a special metal alloy made of nickel and iron. It is used in many industries.
Career and Achievements
After getting her engineering diploma, Cécile Butticaz worked as an engineer in Geneva. She also shared her knowledge by teaching mathematics. She taught in both Geneva and Lausanne.
Cécile Butticaz was also a talented writer. She published several books of poetry in French. She also wrote about social issues in a publication called Foyer moderne in 1935.
Some people say Cécile Butticaz was the very first woman engineer in Europe. However, other women also have claims to this title. For example, Rita de Morais Sarmento earned an engineering degree in Portugal in 1896. Alice Perry earned her engineering degree in Ireland in 1905.
Personal Life and Legacy
Cécile Butticaz was an active member of Soroptimist International. This is a global organization for women. She helped start the Lausanne chapter of the club.
She married Alfred Édouard François Biéler. After her marriage, she used the names Cécile Biéler or Cécile Biéler-Butticaz. They had three sons, who were born in the 1910s. Cécile Butticaz passed away in Geneva in 1966, at the age of 81. Her grave is in Cully, Vaud.
In 2019, a special project called "100Elles" worked to honor important women. Thanks to their efforts, a street in Geneva was renamed "Rue Cécile-Biéler-Butticaz". This was done to remember the city's famous engineer.
Images for kids
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A street sign marking Rue Cécile-Biéler-Butticaz.
