Science, traditionally, was a male preserve, but today things are different. Girls are coming into science in large numbers. Two-thirds of the biological-sciences intake at UCC is female. Today I write about Kathleen Lonsdale, an Irishwoman who made her mark in science when women were the exception rather than the rule.
She was born as Kathleen Yardley, in Newbridge, Co Kildare, on January 28th, 1903, the youngest of 10 children, four of whom died in infancy. Her father, Harry, a former sergeant major in the British army, was postmaster in the town. He kept his wife short of money, and the family was poorly off, but he was intelligent, reading widely, and he passed his passion for facts to his daughter. Kathleen's mother, Jessie Cameron, was of Scottish descent and of strong character. She raised her children as Baptists, persuading them to "take the pledge" at an early age.
Kathleen's earliest memories were of religious services in Newbridge. She was happy at the local school, where she learned to count using yellow balls. Worried by the unsettled state of Ireland, however, Jessie took the children to Seven Kings, in Essex, in 1908. Kathleen won a scholarship to the County High School for Girls, in Ilford, from 1914 to 1919. She also took classes in physics, chemistry and higher mathematics at the County High School for Boys - the only girl to do so, as the subjects were not taught at her school. Kathleen won a county major scholarship and the Royal Geographical Society's medal for the highest marks in geography.
She enrolled in Bedford College for Women, in London, at the age of 16, to study mathematics. At the end of first year, she won a university scholarship and changed from mathematics to physics. In 1922, Kathleen topped her class in the honours BSc examination, and the eminent crystallographer WH Bragg offered her a place in his research group at University College London. Her yearly grant of £180 allowed Kathleen to contribute handsomely to family expenses.
Kathleen used X-ray diffraction to work out molecular structure, analysing how a crystal formed by the molecule scatters a beam of X-rays. In 1923, Bragg moved to the Royal Institution, and Kathleen went with him.
She met her future husband, Thomas Lonsdale, when he was a research student at University College London. They married in 1927 and moved to Leeds, where Thomas got a job. Kathleen thought of leaving research, but Thomas declared he had not married to get a free housekeeper. The couple had three children.
During their stay in Leeds, Kathleen made her most important contribution to science. By studying crystals of hexamethyl benzene, she showed that the benzene ring, a most important compound in organic chemistry, is flat, and she worked out its dimensions fairly accurately.
The Lonsdales returned to London in 1930, and Kathleen worked for the next 15 years at the Royal Institution. In 1949, she was appointed professor of chemistry and head of the department of crystallography at University College London. She also edited International Tables For X-ray Crystallography, the standard work in the field.
Kathleen became a Quaker during her time in Leeds, and she became convinced that war is evil. When the second World War began, in 1939, Kathleen refused on conscientious grounds to register for civil-defence duties. She was summonsed and fined but refused to pay, and she was sent to Holloway jail for a month. Kathleen found prison life tough. She had to do heavy work, cleaning and scrubbing the prison officers' quarters. She collapsed after one heavy duty. The governor allowed her colleagues to send scientific papers and instruments for her to work on in her cell in the evenings. After leaving prison, Kathleen suggested improvements to the governor. Many of her suggestions were implemented, and Kathleen later became a prison visitor. She was also a tireless campaigner for international peace.
Founded in London in 1660, the Royal Society is one of the oldest and most famous scientific societies; election to a fellowship is one of the highest scientific distinctions. On March 22nd, 1945, Kathleen Lonsdale and Marjory Stephenson were together the first women to be elected fellows. Kathleen was also the first woman president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. In 1965, she was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Thomas Lonsdale retired in 1960, aged 60, and helped Kathleen in the cause of peace and prison reform. In 1970, Kathleen became ill with leukaemia; she died on April 1st, 1971.
Kathleen Lonsdale is remembered today in her native Kildare at NUI Maynooth, where the Lonsdale Prize, launched this year, is awarded to the student obtaining the best degree in chemistry. The inaugural prize was awarded to Elaine Lawless.
William Reville is a senior lecturer in biochemistry and director of microscopy at University College, Cork