Mina Rees facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mina Rees
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| Born | August 2, 1902 |
| Died | October 25, 1997 (aged 95) |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Alma mater | Hunter College, University of Chicago, Columbia University |
| Known for | Computing, Infrastructure |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | American Association for the Advancement of Science, Office of Naval Research, CUNY |
| Thesis | Division algebras associated with an equation whose group has four generators (1932) |
| Doctoral advisor | Leonard Dickson |
Mina Spiegel Rees (born August 2, 1902 – died October 25, 1997) was an important American mathematician. She made history as the first woman to lead the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1971. She also headed the mathematics department for the Office of Naval Research in the United States.
Mina Rees was a true pioneer in the early days of computers. She helped create ways to fund research and build the necessary structures for new discoveries. She was also the first president of the Graduate School and University Center at CUNY. For her amazing work, she received many awards. These included the Public Welfare Medal, which is the highest honor from the National Academy of Sciences. She also received the King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom from the UK and earned at least 18 honorary doctorates.
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Early Life and Education
Mina Rees was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Her parents were Moses and Alice Louise Rees. Her family later moved to New York City. There, she went to public schools for her early education.
Mina was a very bright student. She was the top student when she graduated from Hunter College High School. In 1923, she graduated with honors from Hunter College with a degree in math. She then earned a master's degree in mathematics from Columbia University in 1925. She also studied law there.
At that time, it was hard for women to get advanced degrees in math. Mina was told that Columbia's math department was not very interested in female Ph.D. students. So, she started teaching at Hunter College. Later, she took a break to study for her doctorate at the University of Chicago in 1929. She earned her Ph.D. in 1931. Her research was about a complex math topic called "Division algebras."
Career Highlights
Mina Rees had a long and impressive career. She started as an instructor at Hunter College in 1925. She became an Assistant Professor in 1932 and an Associate Professor in 1940.
During World War II, she worked as a Technical Aide. She helped with important scientific research for the war effort.
Leading Math and Computing Research
From 1945 to 1951, Mina Rees led the Mathematics branch at the Office of Naval Research (ONR). This was a very important role. She guided research in many areas. These included hydrofoils, which are boats that lift out of the water, and logistics, which is about planning and managing complex operations.
She was especially key in developing early computer programs. She helped fund university projects to build computers, like Project Whirlwind at MIT. She supported new ideas like magnetic-core memory and using transistors instead of vacuum tubes. These ideas were crucial for making computers faster and smaller. She also pushed for computers with visual displays.
The New York Times newspaper wrote about her impact. They said that Dr. Rees played a big part in how math studies grew and changed. Many of her ideas helped develop fast computer technology.
Breaking Barriers for Women in Science
Mina Rees continued to break barriers throughout her career. From 1953 to 1961, she was the Dean of Faculty at Hunter College. She then became the first Dean of Graduate Studies at City University of New York (CUNY) in 1961.
In 1969, she became the founding president of the Graduate School and University Center at CUNY. In 1971, she made history again. She was elected the first female president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This organization has 120,000 members. This showed that scientific creativity was not just for men.
She was also the first female chair of the U.S. Council of Graduate Schools.
Awards and Recognition
Mina Rees received many honors for her contributions to science and education.
In 1953, the American Mathematical Society praised her. They said that under her leadership, basic research, especially in mathematics, received excellent support. They believed that the growth of math research in the United States after the war owed a lot to her work at the Office of Naval Research.
In 1962, she received the first Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics. This award was from the Mathematical Association of America. It recognized her outstanding service to math, beyond just research.
The American Association of University Women gave her their Achievement Award in 1965. This award celebrates women who have made amazing contributions in their fields.
In 1983, she received the Public Welfare Medal. This is the highest honor from the National Academy of Sciences. It recognized her work in applying science for the public good. It specifically mentioned her contributions to math, astronomy, and computer sciences.
She also received the King's Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom from the UK. The USA gave her the President's Certificate of Merit for her important work during World War II.
In 1985, the library at the Graduate University of the City University of New York was named the Mina Rees Library in her honor. In 1989, she received the Computer Pioneer Award from the IEEE Computer Society.
See also
In Spanish: Mina Rees para niños
