Joan Maie Freeman facts for kids

Joan Maie Freeman AO (born January 7, 1918 – died March 18, 1998) was a brilliant Australian physicist. She made important discoveries about how tiny parts of atoms behave. Joan Freeman was also the first woman to win a very special science award called the Ernest Rutherford Medal and Prize.

Early Life and Education

Joan Maie Freeman was born in Perth, Australia, on January 7, 1918. When she was four years old, her family moved to Sydney. There, she went to the Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School.

Learning at Sydney Technical College

Even as a young girl, Joan was very keen on learning. She took evening classes at Sydney Technical College. The school actually kept her attendance a secret from inspectors. They thought having a girl in the class might make the college look bad.

University Studies

In 1936, Joan earned a spot at the University of Sydney. She studied many subjects, including mathematics, chemistry, physics, and zoology. Often, she was the only woman in her classes. The university even had a rule that a seat had to be left empty between men and women in a lecture hall.

She earned her first science degree (BSc) in 1940. After that, she received a special scholarship. This allowed her to continue her studies for a master's degree (MSc).

Career in Physics

In June 1941, Joan Freeman started working at the Radiophysics Laboratory. This was part of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Working on Radar during WWII

During World War II, Joan worked on radar technology. Radar helps detect objects using radio waves. Her research was very important for the war effort.

Research in England

After the war, Joan studied how low-pressure gases behave with microwaves. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research then gave her another scholarship. This allowed her to go to England to study for her PhD at the University of Cambridge.

She attended Newnham College. Later, she worked with another scientist, Alex Baxter. They studied tiny particles called alpha particles using a special machine called the HT1 accelerator.

Leading the Harwell Group

In 1951, Joan became a Senior Scientific Officer. She worked at the Harwell Tandem Accelerator Group. This group used a powerful machine to study atomic nuclei. Later, she became the leader of this important group.

Major Achievements and Awards

In 1976, Joan Freeman received the Ernest Rutherford Medal and Prize. She shared this award with Roger Blin-Stoyle. They won it for their research on something called beta-radioactivity in complex nuclei. This was a huge achievement!

Joan Freeman was the very first woman to ever win the Ernest Rutherford Medal and Prize. She also received an honorary doctorate from Sydney University. This is a special degree given to people who have done great things. She also became a fellow of the Institute of Physics and the American Physical Society. Joan retired from her work in 1978.

Later Recognition

After she passed away, Joan Freeman was given another high honor. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1999. This was for her amazing contributions to science, especially in nuclear physics. It also recognized her work as someone who spoke up for social responsibility in science.

Joan Freeman also wrote a book in 1991 called A Passion for Physics. She married John Jelley in 1958. Joan passed away in Oxford, Australia, on March 18, 1998.

See also

In Spanish: Joan Maie Freeman para niños