Ethna Gaffney facts for kids
Ethna Elizabeth Gaffney (1920–2011) was an important Irish professor and scientist. She made history as the first female professor of Chemistry at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). She held this important role for over twenty years.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ethna Gaffney was born in Galway, Ireland, in May 1920. She went to school at the Dominican Convent in Galway. Later, she studied at Loreto Abbey in Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin.
She loved science and earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Science (BSc), in 1940 from University College Galway. After that, she moved to University College Dublin (UCD). There, she continued her studies in Biochemistry, which is the study of the chemistry of living things.
Ethna earned her Master of Science (MSc) degree in 1941. Her research focused on new ways to measure tiny amounts of chemicals like ammonia. She then received a special scholarship to continue her research. She worked on developing a way to measure blood glucose. In 1945, she completed her PhD. Her PhD research looked at how chemicals move in and out of yeast cell membranes during a process called fermentation.
Beginning Her Career
In 1944, Ethna Gaffney started teaching at St Mary's College of Domestic Science. She helped create and teach the science program for students studying to become dietitians. She taught many subjects, including Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bacteriology, Physiology, and Nutrition.
She later married in 1947 and left her teaching job. However, in 1952, her husband sadly passed away. This meant she needed to return to work. That same year, she received a special research fellowship. She worked with Dr. Vincent Barry at Trinity College Dublin on treatments for tuberculosis. She also taught dietetics to students at Trinity.
Her connection with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) began in 1952. She was an external examiner for Chemistry and Physics at the college. In 1954, she officially joined the RCSI staff as a lecturer. By 1962, Ethna Gaffney made history. She became the first woman to be appointed Professor of Chemistry and Physics at RCSI. She also became the Director of the Department of Chemistry and Physics. She stayed at RCSI until she retired in 1987.
A Woman in Science
Ethna Gaffney's career was special for a woman in Ireland during the mid-1900s. At that time, it was common for married women to stop working. Ethna did leave her first job after getting married. But after her husband's death, she successfully managed to raise her children and work in a field mostly dominated by men.
She was very proud to be the first female professor at RCSI. She often remembered attending formal dinners where she was the only woman among many men. This did not bother her, as her older brother, Eoin O’Malley, was also a surgeon and later became President of the RCSI.
It was also rare for a woman to have a PhD in Science back then. Ethna had not even studied science in school! She used to joke that she chose a science degree because the registration line was the shortest. However, her family had a strong science background. Her father was a Professor of Surgery, and her aunt had an MSc in Chemistry. Ethna clearly had a natural talent for science.
Her early research was very successful. She published articles in famous journals like Nature, The Biochemical Journal, and The Lancet. However, she published less research later in her career. This was common for many teaching professors at the time. Also, as a single mother with a demanding job, her teaching duties became her main focus.
Dedication to Teaching
Ethna Gaffney's main job was teaching pre-medical students. She had a very busy schedule with daily lectures and lab sessions. She taught large classes of students from many different cultures. Balancing these demands with raising her children on her own was a big challenge.
Because of these personal and professional reasons, Ethna focused most of her energy on teaching and administration. Research became less of a priority. Her career shows the challenges women faced in academia, especially when balancing family life.
Interestingly, Ethna had an unofficial connection with RCSI even before she worked there. She used to help her husband, Jim Gaffney, who was an external examiner for the college. She would correct papers in Chemistry and Physics at home. This unofficial work helped her stay connected to the college.
After Jim's death, RCSI appointed Ethna as an external examiner herself. This strong connection with RCSI, both official and unofficial, likely influenced her decision to join the college full-time in 1954. She never regretted her choice.
Legacy
Ethna Gaffney passed away in Dublin in September 2011.
In 2018, the Teaching laboratory at RCSI was named after her. This was done to honor her many years of service to the college and her strong dedication to teaching future doctors and scientists.
