Daphne Frances Jackson
Daphne Frances Jackson (1936–1991), physicist
1936 Born in Peterborough, daughter of Albert Henry Jackson (1893–1951), an engineering fitter and turner, and Frances Ethel, formerly Elliott (1897–1985), a dressmaker and designer until she married.
1958 Graduated from Imperial College of Science and Technology
1958 Became an associate of the Royal College of Science. Invited to be research student in the physics department at Battersea College of Advanced Technology.
1960 Appointed to the academic staff as assistant lecturer
1962 Gained PhD. Appointed lecturer working in a group studying the theory of the structure of the atomic nucleus.
1965 she became the youngest fellow of the Institute of Physics and later its vice-president.
1966 Battersea College was granted a royal charter and became the University of Surrey. Jackson was made reader in nuclear physics and leader of the nuclear physics group.
1971 Appointed professor and head of the physics department, the first woman to hold either post in the UK.
From about 1978 onwards Jackson's physics interests began to move away from fundamental questions and towards applications of nuclear physics, especially in medicine.
1983-5 She was a champion of women in science and engineering including as president of the Women's Engineering Society. She was instrumental in helping establish the national WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) initiative to attract schoolgirls into science and engineering. In the same period she conceived and launched the Women Returners' Fellowship scheme for women who had had to give up careers in science or engineering because of family commitments.
1987 Appointed OBE.
1991 Died in Guildford.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Biography of Daphne Frances Jackson, ODNB