Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau facts for kids
Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau (born October 27, 1910 – died January 12, 2000) was an important American chemical engineer. She designed the very first factory to make penicillin on a large scale. She was also the first woman to become a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Her Early Life and Education
Margaret Hutchinson was born in 1910 in Houston, Texas. Her father owned a clothing store.
She went to Rice Institute and earned her first degree in 1932. Later, in 1937, she made history at MIT. She earned her Doctor of Science degree in chemical engineering. She was the first woman in the USA to get a doctorate in this field. Her research was about how certain substances affect liquids during gas absorption.
On May 1, 1939, she married William Caubu Rousseau. He was also a chemical engineer at her company, E.B. Badger & Sons. They had one son, named William.
Margaret Rousseau passed away on January 12, 2000. She was 89 years old and died at her home in Weston, Massachusetts.
Her Amazing Career
Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau started her career at E. B. Badger in Boston. During World War II, her skills were very important. She helped design factories to produce materials vital for the war effort.
One of her biggest achievements was designing the first commercial plant for penicillin. Penicillin is a medicine that saves many lives. She developed a new way to grow the mold that makes penicillin in large tanks. This method allowed penicillin to be produced in huge amounts.
She also worked on making synthetic rubber. This material was very important for tires and other war supplies. Another project involved creating high-octane gasoline for airplanes.
Later in her career, she improved the design of distillation columns. These are used to separate different liquids. She also worked on plants that produced chemicals like ethylene glycol and glacial acetic acid.
Margaret Rousseau retired from her engineering career in 1961. After retiring, she became an overseer for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Awards and Recognition
Margaret Hutchinson Rousseau received many honors for her pioneering work.
In 1945, she became the first woman ever accepted as a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). This was a major step for women in engineering.
In 1955, the Society of Women Engineers gave her their Achievement Award.
Then, in 1983, she received the prestigious Founders Award from the AIChE. She was the first woman to ever get this important award.
