150 women in 150 words

May 2021 List of women who contributed to knowledge in New Zealand June 2022 The "150 women in 150 words" project was undertaken by the Royal Society Te Apārangi and published during their 150th anniversary celebrations in 2017. The aim of the project was "celebrating women's contributions to expanding knowledge in New Zealand", and involved short online biographies of a range of women from early Polynesian settlers to present-day scientists.150 Women in 150 Words https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/150th-anniversary/150-women-in-150-words/ 28 April 2021 Royal Society Te Apārangi 31 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131022243/https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/150th-anniversary/150-women-in-150-words/ live The biographies are arranged on the Royal Society Te Apārangi's website in four categories: pre-1866 (of which there are two, Whakaotirangi and Kahupeka), 1867–1917, 1918–1967, and 1968–to the present time. The full list of biographies below is arranged alphabetically by (most commonly used) surname. Image NameDescription Date of birth Date of death Nancy AdamsBotanist and botanical artist, and museum curator. 19 May 1926 27 May 2007 center|128px| Mary Aldis Mary Aldis (science writer) Scientific author and social reform campaigner 1840 11 August 1897 Catherine Alexander Catherine Alexander (botanist) Botanist, and the first known woman to publish a paper in the Royal Society Te Apārangi's Transactions in 1886. 8 December 1862 17 March 1928 Elizabeth Alexander Elizabeth Alexander (scientist)Geologist, academic, and physicist, whose wartime work with radar and radio led to early developments in radio astronomy. 13 December 1908 15 October 1958 Jan Anderson Jan Anderson (scientist)Organic chemist who worked on photosynthesis. 12 May 1932 28 August 2015 center|128px Innes AsherProfessor of paediatrics 1999 12 31 hide20th Centurycenter|128px| Rosemary AskinGeologist specialising in Antarctic palynology and the first New Zealand woman to undertake her own research programme in Antarctica, in 1970. 1949 center|128px Paddy BassettAgricultural scientist, the first woman graduate from Massey Agricultural College, and also one of the first two women students accepted into Canterbury Agricultural College (now Lincoln University). 15 July 1918 20 July 2019 Betty BathamMarine biologist and university lecturer, who directed the Portobello Marine Biological Station at the University of Otago for more than 23 years. 2 December 1917 8 July 1974 Muriel BellNutritionist and medical researcher 4 January 1898 2 May 1974 Helen BensonProfessor of home science. 25 January 1886 20 February 1964 Patricia BergquistZoologist specialising in sponges, anatomist and biologist 10 March 1933 9 September 2009 Betty BernardelliPhysiological psychologist who was the commanding officer at the WAAF training school for psychology instructors. 7 November 1919 1998 Winifred BettsBotanist and the first female lecturer at the University of Otago 1894 29 April 1971 Judith BinneyWriter, academic, historian and educator 1 July 1940 15 February 2011 Philippa BlackGeologist specialising in mineralogy and metamorphic petrology. 26 November 1941 Agnes BlackieNew Zealand's first female physics lecturer and probably the Southern Hemisphere's only female physics academic at the time of her appointment. 1897 1975center|128px| Ellen Wright Blackwell Ellen BlackwellWriter, botanist, and photographer. 7 October 1864 24 February 1952center|128px| Winifred Lily Boys-Smith Winifred Boys-SmithScience artist and lecturer, university professor, and school principal 7 November 1865 1 January 1939 Janet M. Bradford-Grieve Janet GrieveCarcinologist and biological oceanographer. 1940center|128px| Margaret BradshawGeologist and Antarctic researcher. 1941center|128px| Beryl BrewinMarine zoologist, specialising in ascidians (sea squirts). 10 September 1910 1999center|128px| Margaret BrimbleChemist who has made investigations of shellfish toxins and means to treat brain injuries. 20 August 1961center|128px| Sally BrookerInorganic chemist 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Katherine Browning Teacher, who published one of the only four papers by women in the Royal Society of New Zealand's Transactions before 1900. 1864 1946 center|128px Carolyn BurnsEcologist specialising in lakes. 3 February 1942 center|128px Ella CampbellBotanist and expert on bryophytes, she published 130 scientific papers on liverworts, hornworts, orchids, and wetlands. She became the first woman faculty member of the Massey Agricultural College. 28 October 1910 24 July 2003center|128px| Kathleen Campbell Kathleen Campbell (geologist)Geologist, paleoecologist and astrobiologist 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Vivienne Cassie CooperPlanktologist and botanist. 29 September 1926 5 July 2021 Amy Castle Amy Castle (entomologist)Entomologist and museum curator 9 May 1880 23 February 1971 Alva ChallisGeologist who discovered the mineral Wairauite, and pioneered the use of x-rays for mineral investigation in New Zealand. 25 January 1930 21 November 2010 Ann ChapmanLimnologist, one of the first New Zealand women scientists to visit Antarctica, and the first woman to lead a scientific expedition to Antarctica. 14 January 1937 23 May 2009 center|128px| Emma Cheeseman Scientific painter and taxidermist, whose work is in the Auckland Museum 4 November 1846 2 October 1928 Marie ClayAcademic, clinical psychologist, researcher distinguished researcher known for her work in global educational literacy. 3 January 1926 13 April 2007center|128px| Helen Connon First woman in the British Empire to win any university degree with honours. 1860 22 February 1903center|128px| Lucy CranwellBotanist responsible for groundbreaking work in palynology, and curator of botany at Auckland Museum. 7 August 1907 8 June 2000 Marguerite CrookesBotanical enthusiast, pteridologist and conservationist, author, and founder of the Auckland Natural History Club. 1898 24 January 1991center|128px| Margaret CruickshankNew Zealand's first registered female doctor 1 January 1873 28 November 1918 center|128px Kathleen CurtisMycologist and a founder of plant pathology in New Zealand. 15 August 1892 5 September 1994 Helen DalrympleBotanist, author and school teacher who wrote two books on Otago flora. 1883 1943 Janet DavidsonArchaeologist who has carried out extensive field work in the Pacific Islands. 1941center|128px| Michelle DickinsonNanotechnologist and science educator. 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Joan DingleyMycologist who was the head of mycology at the DSIR Plant Disease Division. 14 May 1916 1 January 2008 center|128px Alison DownardChemist focusing on surface chemistry, electrochemistry and nanoscale grafted layers 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Audrey EagleWriter, botanist and botanical illustrator, who was author and illustrator of the two volume Eagle's Complete Trees and Shrubs of New Zealand. 1925center|128px| Elizabeth EdgarBotanist, author and editor of three of the five volumes of the series Flora of New Zealand. 27 December 1929 1 January 2019 center|128px| Kate Edger University graduate, educationalist, community worker. The first woman in New Zealand to gain a university degree, and possibly the second in the British Empire to do so. 6 January 1857 6 May 1935center|128px| Kate Violet Edgerley Kate EdgerleyBotanist and teacher 21 February 1887 26 February 1939 Edith FarkasAntarctic researcher known for being the first Hungarian woman and also the first New Zealand MetService female staff member to set foot in Antarctica. She conducted world-leading ozone monitoring research for over 30 years. 13 October 1921 3 February 1993 Sarah Featon Botanical artist and author, who with her husband published The Art Album of New Zealand Flora. 1848 28 April 1927 Ruth FitzgeraldAnthropology academic 1956 Elizabeth Alice Flint Betty FlintBotanist who specialised in freshwater algae, and co-authored the three-volume series Flora of New Zealand Desmids in the 1980s and 1990s. 26 May 1909 7 December 2011center|128px| Caroline Freeman Teacher, school principal and owner, and the first female graduate of the University of Otago, New Zealand. 1856 hidec.1856 16 August 1914 Constance Frost Medical doctor, bacteriologist and pathologist. 23 June 1862 29 January 1920center|128px| Marion FyfeAcademic, specialising in taxonomy of planarians and other flatworms, the first woman zoology lecturer at the University of Otago, and the first woman to be elected to the Council of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. 1897 1986center|128px| Juliet GerrardChemist and New Zealand Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor. 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Bessie Te Wenerau GraceFirst Māori woman university graduate, nun, and educator. 1889 1944center|128px| Jane HardingAcademic new-born intensive case specialist (neonatologist) 1955 center|128px| Aroha HarrisHistorian and writer, specialising in Māori histories of policy and community development 1999 12 31 hide20th Century center|128px| Emily Cumming Harris Emily Harris (artist) Teacher and artist, and one of New Zealand's first professional women painters. 28 March 1837 5 August 1925 Jennifer HayLinguist who specialises in sociolinguistics, laboratory phonology, and the history of New Zealand English 1968center|128px| Harlene HaynePsychology professor and first female vice-chancellor of the University of Otago. 1961 Elizabeth HerriottScientist and the first woman appointed to the permanent teaching staff at Canterbury College. 1882 13 March 1936 center|128px Barbara HeslopImmunologist specialising in transplantation immunology and immunogenetics. 26 January 1925 20 December 2013 Rangimārie HetetTohunga raranga (master weaver) of Ngāti Maniapoto 24 May 1892 14 June 1995 Georgina Burne Hetley Georgina Hetley Artist and author, her book The Native Flora of New Zealand was published in English and French. 27 May 1832 29 August 1898 Avice HillEntomologist and herb grower. 1906 2001 Hirst Miss HirstAstronomical observer who published significant observations of Jupiter 1800 hide19th Century Unknown Eliza Amy Hodgson Amy HodgsonBotanist who specialised in liverworts. 10 October 1888 7 January 1983center|128px| Janet Holmes Janet Holmes (linguist)Sociolinguist working on language and gender, language in the workplace, and New Zealand English. 17 May 1947center|128px| Ngapare HopaMāori academic of Waikato Tainui descent 1999 12 31 hide20th Century30 April 2024The Waikato Times https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/350274762/obituary-leading-maori-scholar-dr-ngapare-hopas-legacy-will-live 2024-07-07 www.waikatotimes.co.nzMateariki Atereano 2024-05-01 Ngapare Hopa blazed trail for wāhine Māori academics https://waateanews.com/2024/05/01/ngapare-hopa-blazed-trail-for-wahine-maori-academics/ 2024-07-07 Waatea News: Māori Radio Station en-NZ Alice Woodward Horsley Alice Horsley First registered woman doctor in Auckland. 3 February 1871 7 November 1957center|128px| Philippa Howden-Chapman Clinical psychologist and public health researcher 1999 12 31 hide20th Centurycenter|128px| Margaret Hyland Chemist, engineer and professor. 1960center|128px| Alison JonesAcademic working on sociology of education. 1955 KahupekaMāori healer and pioneer of herbal medicine 1450 hide15th Century Unknown Thelma Kent Photographer 21 October 1899 23 June 1946 Elsa Kidson Soil scientist and sculptor 18 March 1905 25 July 1979 Martha King New Zealand's first resident botanical illustrator. She was a founder of schools in Whanganui and New Plymouth, and a talented gardener and schoolteacher. 1803 31 May 1897center|128px| Judith KinnearAcademic, geneticist, and the first woman to head a New Zealand university 12 May 1939center|128px| Pat LanghorneAntarctic sea ice researcher 1955center|128px| Wendy LarnerGeographer and social scientist who has focussed on the interdisciplinary areas of globalisation, governance and gender. 2 March 1963 Diana LennonAcademic and pediatrician, specialising in infectious diseases. 3 October 1949 15 May 2018 Janice M. Lord Janice LordBotanist and plant evolutionary biologist 1999 12 31 hide20th Century center|128px| Elsie Low Botanist, teacher and temperance campaigner. 25 July 1875 14 February 1909center|128px| Averil Margaret Lysaght Averil LysaghtBiologist, science historian and artist, best known for her scholarly work on Joseph Banks 14 April 1905 21 August 1981 Bella MacCallumBotanist and mycologist, and New Zealand's first female doctor of science 1886 17 March 1927center|128px| Tracey McIntoshSociology and criminology academic 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Ruth MasonBotanist specialising in the taxonomy and ecology of freshwater plants. 7 November 1913 14 May 1990 Kāterina MatairaMāori language advocate, artist and writer 13 November 1932 16 July 2011center|128px| Lisa Matisoo-SmithMolecular anthropologist 1963 Joan MattingleyClinical chemist and author 1926 27 July 2015 Marjorie Mestayer Conchologist, and conchology curator for the Dominion Museum in Wellington. 1880 7 July 1955 Joan MetgeSocial anthropologist, educator, lecturer and writer. 21 February 1930center|128px| Pérrine MoncrieffOrnithologist, conservationist, and author 8 February 1893 16 December 1979center|128px| Lucy Beatrice Moore Lucy Moore (botanist)Botanist and ecologist 14 July 1906 9 June 1987center|128px Rina Winifred Moore Rina MooreFirst female Māori medical doctor. 6 April 1923 1975 Flora Murray Flora Murray (botanist)Botanist, and second woman appointed as permanent staff at Canterbury University College. 1 August 1896 1968center|128px| Margaret MutuNgāti Kahu leader, author and academic 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Phoebe Myers Teacher and educational reformer. She was one of the first women to teach science at college level in New Zealand, and the first woman to represent her country at the League of Nations. 13 June 1866 2 June 1947 Sheila Natusch Writer and freelance illustrator. 14 February 1926 10 August 2017center|128px| Wendy Nelson Wendy Nelson (marine scientist) Botanist and phycologist, New Zealand's leading authority on seaweeds. 1954 Hinke Maria Osinga Hinke Osinga Mathematician and an expert in dynamical systems, also a creator of mathematical art. 25 December 1969 Roka Paora Māori language expert, translator, author and educator. 15 February 1925 15 January 2011 center|128px| Mākereti Papakura Tūhourangi woman of mana, guide, entertainer, and ethnographer. 20 October 1873 16 April 1930 Kim PickeringComposite materials engineer 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Suzanne G Pitama Suzanne PitamaPsychologist and indigenous health researcher 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Josephine Gordon Rich Josephine RichZoologist and one of only four women who published results of her scientific work in New Zealand before 1901 1866 6 September 1940 Jane RitchiePsychology academic and expert of child-raising, she was the first woman to graduate with a PhD in psychology from a New Zealand university. 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Joan RobbZoologist, professor and curator 1921 19 October 2017 Marion RobinsonNutritionist and physiologist, particularly noted for her investigation of the importance of selenium in the human diet. 1923 2003center|128px| Viviane RobinsonEducational psychologist 1999 12 31 hide20th Centurycenter|128px| Jacinta Ruru Law professor and the first Māori Professor of Law. 1974center|128px| Anne Salmond Anne Salmond (historian) Anthropologist and historian 16 November 1945 Hope Sanderson Geologist, and the first New Zealand woman to graduate with MSc with Honours in Geology at a New Zealand university. 1925 2016 Rosa Olga Sansom Olga SansomTeacher, museum director, botanist, broadcaster, and writer. 3 June 1900 1 July 1989center|128px| Caroline SaundersEconomist and researcher, specialising in environmental economics 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Martha K. Savage Martha Savage Geology academic. 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Brenda Shore Botanist, one of only 20 female Associate Professors in New Zealand when she retired in 1983. 1922 1993 center|128px| Emily Hancock Siedeberg-McKinnon Emily Siedeberg Medical practitioner, hospital superintendent, and the country's first female medical graduate. 17 February 1873 13 June 1968center|128px| Cather Simpson Physicist/chemist and entrepreneur 1999 12 31 hide20th Centurycenter|128px| Liz Slooten Marine biologist 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Anne Briar Smith Children's rights researcher and academic 13 August 1940 22 May 2016center|128px| Linda Tuhiwai Smith Academic who has made a major contribution to research methods in social justice research. 1950 Jane Soons Geomorphologist and the first woman professor at the University of Canterbury, and possibly the first in New Zealand. 1931 8 September 2020center|128px| Greta Stevenson Botanist and mycologist, who described many new species of Agaricales (gilled mushrooms). 10 June 1911 18 December 1990center|128px| Evelyn Stokes Historical geographer who worked in the Waitangi Tribunal. 5 December 1936 15 August 2005 Vida StoutLimnographer and academic administrator, first woman to be Dean of Science at a New Zealand university. 20 February 1930 21 July 2012 Jean StruthersBotany student in New Zealand and an inspirational chemistry teacher in England and New Zealand 1899 2002 Lydia Suckling Botanist and school teacher. 1890 1979 Mary Sutherland Mary Sutherland (forester) Forester and botanist. 4 May 1893 11 March 1955 Miraka Szászy Māori leader and academic, making significant contributions in education, broadcasting, social welfare and small business development. 7 August 1921 20 December 2001center|128px| Merryn Tawhai Physics professor, she is known for the development of mathematical models of the lungs that will help scientists understand differences between physiologically normal lungs and the pathological changes that might occur in a disease. 1999 12 31 hide20th Century Grace Marie Taylor Marie Taylor (mycologist) Botanist, mycologist and scientific illustrator 28 April 1930 24 April 1999center|128px| Ngahuia Te Awekotuku Academic, short story writer and essayist 1949center|128px| Margaret Tennant Historian 1952 C. Jean Thompson Statistician and author, who served as president of the New Zealand Statistical Association. 1940 Beatrice Tinsley Astronomer and cosmologist, whose research made fundamental contributions to the astronomical understanding of how galaxies evolve, grow and die. 27 January 1941 23 March 1981 Colleen Ward Colleen Ward (psychologist) Cross-cultural psychologist 19 August 1952center|128px| Joyce Watson Joyce Watson (chemist) Chemist specialising in fruit disorders and trace elements. 5 July 1918 28 September 2004 Lydia WeversLiterary historian and critic, editor and book reviewer. 19 March 1950 4 September 2021 Whakaotirangi Māori experimental gardener and early New Zealand scientist 1350 hide14th Century Unknown Joan Wiffen Paleontologist 4 February 1922 30 June 2009 Philippa Wiggins Biochemist and physical chemist, who made significant contributions to the understanding of the structure of water in living cells. 16 July 1925 16 March 2017center|128px| Siouxsie Wiles Microbiologist and science communicator 1999 12 31 hide20th Century center|128px| Christine Coe Winterbourn Pathologist and researcher of the biological chemistry of free radicals. 1999 12 31 hide20th Century center|128px| Mimie Wood Secretary, accountant and librarian 1888 1979 Ann Wylie Botanist 1922 Aroha Yates-Smith Performer and social scientist, researching forgotten Māori female deities 1999 12 31 hide20th Centurycenter|128px| Pamela Young First New Zealand woman to live and work in Antarctica 1930 hide1930s References Category:Lists of women scientists Category:Lists of New Zealand women Category:Royal Society of New Zealand *