Ethel Sargant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ethel Sargant
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| Born | 28 October 1863 |
| Died | 16 January 1918 (aged 54) Sidmouth, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Girton College, Cambridge |
| Known for | Significant research in botanical science |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Cytology and morphology of plants |
| Influenced | Agnes Arber |
Ethel Sargant (born October 28, 1863 – died January 16, 1918) was a British scientist who studied plants. She looked closely at plant cells (this is called cytology) and the shapes and structures of plants (this is called morphology).
She was one of the very first women to join the Linnean Society of London, which is a famous group for natural history. She was also the first woman to be on their main council. Ethel Sargant was also the first woman to lead a section at the British Science Association. At Girton College, Cambridge, she became an Honorary Fellow in 1913. She also led the British Federation of Women Graduates from 1913 until 1918.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ethel Sargant was born on October 28, 1863. She was the third daughter of Henry Sargant, who was a lawyer, and his wife Catherine Emma Beale.
She went to the North London Collegiate School. This was a time when schools just for girls were quite new and exciting. From 1881 to 1885, she studied at Girton College, Cambridge. Her sister, Mary Sargant Florence, was a painter and a supporter of women's rights. Her brother, Sir Charles Sargant, became a senior judge.
Plant Science Work
Ethel Sargant worked with Margaret Jane Benson, who was the head of the Botany Department at Royal Holloway, University of London. In 1897, they traveled around Europe together. They wanted to find equipment and learn new things to set up a plant science lab at Royal Holloway College.
From 1892 to 1893, Ethel Sargant worked with Professor D.H. Scott at the Jodrell Laboratory in Kew Gardens. There, she studied the nucleus (the control center) of plant cells. She also looked at how male and female plant cells develop in a type of lily called Lilium martagon.
Working from Home
For some years, Ethel Sargant did her plant research from home. This was because she was taking care of her mother and sister. To balance her family duties and her science work, she set up a small lab. It was in the garden of her mother's house in Reigate. She even called it "Jodrell Junior."
She hired other women scientists to help her with her research. These included Ethel Thomas (from 1897 to 1901) and Agnes Arber (from 1902 to 1903).
Later Research and Leadership
After this, Ethel Sargant focused on studying the anatomy (the structure) of plant seedlings. In 1907, she gave a series of lectures on botany at the University of London.
In December 1904, Ethel Sargant made history. She was one of the first women ever to be elected as a fellow of the Linnean Society of London. Even more, she became the very first woman to serve on their main council.
After her mother and sister passed away, she moved to Girton village in 1912. In 1913, she was honored as an Honorary Fellow of Girton College, Cambridge. She also served as the President of the British Federation of Women Graduates from 1913 until 1918. In 1913, she was the President of the Botanical Section at the British Science Association meeting in Birmingham.
During World War I, Ethel Sargant helped her country. She organized a list of university-educated women who could do important work for the nation. This list was later taken over by the government's Ministry of Labour.
Ethel Sargant passed away in Sidmouth on January 16, 1918.
Legacy
Ethel Sargant left her collection of plant science books and bookcases to Girton College, Cambridge. In 1919, her friends created the Ethel Sargant Studentship. This is a special scholarship for students doing research in Natural Sciences, in her memory. Many of the scientific papers she collected are now kept at the Plant Sciences Library at the University of Cambridge. Her friend and fellow botanist, Agnes Arber, wrote about her life and work after she died.
See also
In Spanish: Ethel Sargant para niños
