Erna Hamburger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erna Hamburger
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Erna Hamburger in 1962
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| Born | 14 September 1911 |
| Died | 15 May 1988 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Employer | EPFL |
| Known for | First woman in Swiss history to be named professor at a STEM university |
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Notable work
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Apparatus for radio-wave reception |
| Movement | Early leader in global feminism |
Erna Hamburger (born September 14, 1911 – died May 15, 1988) was an amazing Swiss engineer and university professor. In 1957, she made history by becoming a professor of electrometry at the University of Lausanne. This was a huge step because she was the very first woman in Switzerland to become a professor at a university focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
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Erna's Early Life and School
Erna Hamburger was born in Brussels, Belgium, on September 14, 1911. Her parents were Frederick and Else Müller. She went to secondary school in Kissingen, Bavaria.
Erna started her secondary education at a school just for girls. Later, she moved to a new school where she was the only girl in her engineering classes! This shows how determined she was. In 1933, she earned a special diploma in electrical engineering from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). She didn't stop there; she also got her doctorate degree in technical sciences from EPFL in 1936.
Erna Hamburger's Career
After finishing her studies, Erna Hamburger started working as an electrical engineer in 1942. She worked at a company called Paillard SA in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland. Before she became a professor, she was in charge of the electrotechnical laboratory at EPFL.
Making History as a Professor
In 1957, Erna Hamburger was chosen to be a professor at EPFL. This was a very important moment because she was the first woman ever to become a professor at a STEM university in Switzerland. The president of the school, Maurice Cosandey, said it was a "brilliant consecration." He also noted that it showed how Switzerland was a bit behind in promoting women to such important roles.
Other Important Roles
Erna Hamburger held many other important positions. She was the President of the Swiss Association of Women in Liberal and Commercial Careers. She also led the Association of University Women of Vaud. On an international level, she was the Vice President of the International Federation of University Women.
Her Work with Radio Waves
One of Erna's most important inventions was a device for receiving radio waves. Her research on radio waves included looking at how to record sound frequencies using light and studying very short radio waves.
Serving in the Military
Erna Hamburger also joined the Swiss military in 1939. She was promoted in 1950 to be the chief of the telecommunication troops. This meant she was in charge of how messages were sent and received for the military.
Erna's Lasting Impact
Erna Hamburger strongly believed in the importance of higher education. Not long after she passed away, a special foundation was created in her honor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne. This foundation is called the Women in Science and Humanities Foundation. Its main goal is to help and support women who want to pursue higher education.
Every year, a special award called the Erna Hamburger Prize is given out. This prize honors "the most influential woman in science" for that year. It helps keep Erna's memory alive and celebrates other amazing women in science.
