Kathleen Sherrard facts for kids

Kathleen Margaret Maria Sherrard (born February 15, 1898 – died August 21, 1975) was an important Australian geologist and paleontologist. She studied rocks and fossils, helping us understand Earth's past.

Early Life and Education

Kathleen was born Kathleen McInerny in North Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Her father was a doctor. Later, her family lived in Beijing, China.

She loved science and studied geology and chemistry at the University of Melbourne. She earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Science (BSc), in 1918. Then, she got her Master of Science (MSc) in 1921. She even won special research scholarships for her excellent work.

Her Career and Contributions

After university, Kathleen started working at the University of Melbourne in 1919. She helped teach geography. She also supported her family after her father passed away. From 1920 to 1928, she was a key person in the Victorian Women Graduates' Association.

In 1927, she spent six months at the University of Cambridge in England. There, she learned more about minerals and crystals. She also helped lead the Australian Federation of University Women from 1928 to 1938.

Back then, it was hard for married women to find jobs in Australia. So, when Kathleen got married in 1928, she stopped working in paid science jobs. But that didn't stop her! She used her own money to keep learning and doing research. She also worked on important social causes.

Kathleen was a member of many scientific groups, like the Royal Society of New South Wales and the Geological Society of Australia.

Research in Paleontology

Professor Leo Cotton at the University of Sydney gave Kathleen access to their geology labs. From the 1950s, she was like a staff member there. She switched her focus from geology to paleontology, which is the study of fossils. She became a very keen paleontologist.

She worked on understanding graptolites, which are tiny, extinct sea creatures that look like pencil marks on rocks. She also studied other ancient sea animals called tentaculites. Between 1928 and 1975, she published 15 research papers. She traveled to conferences and did fieldwork, sometimes even taking her two sons with her!

Helping During World War II

In 1939, Kathleen helped start the Australian Association of Scientific Workers. During World War II, she led a group that studied how food affected children's growth. She also worked on how to store and distribute food if people had to leave cities quickly during the war.

Near the end of the war, Kathleen wrote an article in a magazine called Australian Women's Digest. In it, she encouraged women who wanted to work in science to think about their future careers.

International Studies and Promoting Women in Science

In 1950, she spent three months at the University of Cambridge and the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences in England, studying fossils. Later, in 1967, she looked at fossil collections in Peking (now Beijing), China.

Kathleen always tried to encourage more women to get involved in science.

Recognition

Kathleen's important papers were given to the State Library of New South Wales. As a special honor, a type of graptolite fossil was named after her: Monograptus sherrardae.

Personal Life

In 1928, Kathleen married Howard Macoun Sherrard. They had two sons and moved to Sydney after they got married.

Death

Kathleen Sherrard passed away at her home in Centennial Park, Sydney, in 1975. She was 77 years old. Her husband and sons survived her.