Kirstine Meyer facts for kids

Kirstine Bjerrum Meyer (born October 12, 1861 – died September 28, 1941) was a Danish scientist. She was a physicist, which means she studied how the world works. Kirstine was the first woman in Denmark to get a special science degree called a doctorate. This was a big achievement for women in science!

Kirstine Meyer's Life and Studies

Kirstine Bjerrum was born in a town called Skærbæk in Denmark. She later passed away in Hellerup. Her parents were Niels Janniksen Bjerrum and Christiane Degn.

When Kirstine was 18, she moved to Copenhagen. She lived with her older brother, Jannik Petersen Bjerrum, who was an eye doctor. In 1885, she married a mathematician named Adolph Constantin Meyer. She then started using his last name. Sadly, her husband passed away in 1896. Kirstine then raised their young son, Johannes, by herself.

In 1882, Kirstine Meyer earned a teaching degree from N. Zahles Skole. In 1885, she began studying at the University of Copenhagen. She worked very hard and earned her Master's Degree in physics in 1893. She continued to be involved with N. Zahles Skole for many years. She also taught at a boys' school called Metropolitanskolen for a short time.

Research and Achievements

Kirstine Meyer was a high school teacher for a long time. At the same time, she continued her own education and research in physics. In 1899, she won a special award. It was the Gold Medal from the Royal Danish Academy of Science and Letters. She won it for her paper about how liquids behave.

In 1909, she earned her Ph.D. in physics from the University of Copenhagen. This made her the first Danish woman to get a doctorate in natural sciences. Her Ph.D. paper was about the history of the idea of temperature. It was called Temperaturbegrebets Udvikling gennem Tiderne.

Kirstine Meyer also started a Danish science magazine called Fysisk Tidsskrift in 1902. This magazine was about physics. She was the editor of this magazine until 1913. In 1925, she received the Tagea Brandt Rejselegat. This was a special scholarship that helped her travel.

Awards and Honors

• 1899: Scientific Society Gold Medal
• 1920: Gold Medal of Merit
• 1925: Tagea Brandts Travel Grant

On December 9, 1986, the Danish railway company, DSB, honored Kirstine Meyer. They named a new electric train, Litra EA 3007, after her. It was called Kirstine Meyer.

Images for kids

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  A robot, representing science and technology.