Kathleen Curtis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathleen Curtis
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Kathleen Maisey Curtis, England 1918
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| Born | 15 August 1892 Foxton, New Zealand
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| Died | 5 September 1994 (aged 102) Nelson, New Zealand
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| Alma mater | Imperial College London |
| Known for | Plant pathology |
| Spouse(s) |
Theodore Rigg
(m. 1966; died 1972) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mycology |
| Institutions | Cawthron Institute |
| Thesis | (1919) |
| Doctoral advisor | John Bretland Farmer Vernon Herbert Blackman |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | K.M.Curtis |
Kathleen Maisey Curtis, Lady Rigg (born August 15, 1892 – died September 5, 1994) was an amazing New Zealand scientist. She was a mycologist, which means she studied fungi like mushrooms and molds. Kathleen also helped start the field of plant pathology in New Zealand. This is the study of plant diseases.
Biography
Early Life and Education
Kathleen Curtis was born in Foxton on August 15, 1892. She went to school at Lyttelton West School and Auckland Girls' Grammar School. Later, she studied at Auckland University College.
In 1914, she earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), with a special scholarship in botany. A year later, in 1915, she received her Master of Arts (MA) with top honors in botany. Her excellent schoolwork earned her several important scholarships. These scholarships helped her travel to London in 1915 to continue her studies.
Kathleen was the first woman from New Zealand to earn a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree. She received this high honor in 1919 from the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London. Her research focused on a plant disease called potato wart disease. This disease is caused by a fungus.
Her DSc research was so good that she won the Huxley Medal. It was called the best fungal research in ten years! Kathleen's work is still seen as a very important part of plant pathology. It was one of the first big contributions to plant science from a New Zealand researcher.
A Career in Science
Kathleen Curtis was a founding member of the Cawthron Institute. This is a famous research center in New Zealand. She started working there in April 1920 as a mycologist. She worked in the Department of Biology. Kathleen spent her entire career at the Cawthron Institute.
In 1928, she became the head of a new department. This was the Department of Mycology. Her achievements were recognized in 1936 when she became the first woman to be elected a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. She was also chosen as a fellow of the Linnean Society of London. These honors showed how important her work in botany was.
Between 1921 and 1952, Kathleen published 27 research papers. These papers covered many topics in mycology and plant pathology. Most of her research focused on plants and fungi in the Nelson region of New Zealand.
She famously described a type of puffball fungus called Claustula fischeri in 1926. She also did important research on the black spot disease that affects apples and pears. This disease is caused by a fungus called Venturia inaequalis. Kathleen was the first scientist in New Zealand to study how plants can resist diseases. She also first pointed out how serious virus diseases were in New Zealand plants. Kathleen retired from her work in 1952.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1966, Kathleen married Sir Theodore Rigg. He was also a scientist, studying agricultural chemistry. Sir Theodore passed away in 1972.
In 1994, a painting of Kathleen as a young DSc graduate was made by Colin Allen. This painting was hung in the Royal Society's headquarters in Wellington, New Zealand. The Bishop of Nelson, Peter Sutton, praised her contributions to science. This happened at a special lecture in 1994. After she passed away on September 5, 1994, her funeral was held at St Barnabas' Church. Kathleen's ashes were buried in Marsden Valley Cemetery.
In 2017, Kathleen Curtis was chosen as one of the Royal Society Te Apārangi's "150 women in 150 words". This celebrated the important contributions women have made to knowledge in New Zealand.
