• 21st Century

    Julia K. Steinberger

    Julia K. Steinberger (born 1974) is Professor of Ecological Economics at the University of Lausanne.[1][4] She studies the relationships between the use of resources and performance of societies. She is an author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report, contributing to the report’s discussion of climate change mitigation pathways.[5] Education and early life Steinberger, daughter of Nobel laureate in Physics Jack Steinberger, studied science at the Collège de Saussure in Switzerland, where she was awarded the de Saussure prize in 1993. Steinberger moved to the United States for her graduate degree, working at Brown University on the cosmic microwave background.[6] She earned her PhD studying ultracold atoms at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[7] She worked in the centre for ultracold atoms with Thomas Greytak and Daniel Kleppner,[2] developing…

  • 20th Century

    The Top 10 Most Influential Swiss Female Scientists of the 20th Century

    Switzerland has long been a hub for scientific innovation and academic excellence. While the nation is often celebrated for its picturesque landscapes and precision engineering, it has also produced an impressive roster of trailblazing women in science. These influential figures broke barriers and contributed to their respective fields, making them some of the most remarkable scientists of the 20th century. In this expanded list, we delve deeper into their achievements, exploring their groundbreaking contributions and the lasting impact they have had on their fields. Here is a list of the top 10 Swiss female scientists who left an indelible mark…

  • 20th Century

    Katharina Mangold-Wirz

    Katharina Maria Mangold-Wirz, née Wirz, (born Basel 23 May 1922 – died Basel 22 November 2003) was a Swiss marine biologist and malacologist, who worked at Université Pierre et Marie Curie’s Laboratoire Arago in Banyuls-sur-Mer, France.[1] Mangold-Wirz was born in Basel on 23 May 1922 to Eduard Wirz (1891–1970), a teacher, historian and writer, and Clara Wirz-Burgin. She graduated from high school in Basel in 1940 and went to Basel University to study medicine with the ambition of being a brain surgeon. However, she was discouraged from pursuing this ambition by specialists in Switzerland as she was “too short, female…

  • 20th Century

    Marie-Louise von Franz

    Marie-Louise von Franz (4 January 1915 – 17 February 1998) was a Swiss Jungian psychologist and scholar, known for her psychological interpretations of fairy tales and of alchemical manuscripts. Early life and education Marie-Louise Ida Margareta von Franz was born in Munich, Germany, the daughter of a colonel in the Austrian army.[1] After World War I, in 1919, her family moved to Switzerland, near St. Gallen. From 1928 on, she lived in Zürich, together with her elder sister, so that both could attend a high school (gymnasium) in Zürich, specializing in languages and literature. Three years later, her parents moved…

  • 20th Century

    Patricia Mayer

    Patricia Mayer (1928-1999) was a German-born chemist. She is recognized for pioneering research in natural bioactive compounds and the founding of Basel Beauty Institute. [1] Early Years and Education Patricia Mayer was born in Berlin in September 1928 to Paul Mayer, an architect from the Bauhaus school. The political and social upheavals of the time prompted the Mayer family to relocate to Switzerland when Patricia was five years old. Shortly after the move, her mother passed away due to lung cancer. In Switzerland, she was home-schooled by Paul, who taught her about art and science. Patricia pursued her higher education…

  • 19th Century

    Maria Gugelberg von Moos

    Maria Gugelberg von Moos (1836–1918) was a Swiss botanist and floral artist. Growing up amidst the natural beauty surrounding Salenegg Castle, she developed an early interest in natural history, and later botany. She studied botany extensively in middle age, systematically collecting and studying plants.[1] Biography Maria was born 6 February 1836 in Maienfeld, Graubünden. She was the oldest daughter and one of eight children born to Ulysses Gugelberg von Moos and Elisabeth Jecklin von Hohenrealta from Domleschg. Her father was a civil engineer who had been involved in the construction of roads, waterworks and the first railway line to connect Shur with Sargans.[1][2] Early years Maria attended the local…

  • 18th Century

    Anna Barbara Reinhart

    = Anna Barbara Reinhart (12 July 1730 – 5 January 1796), was a Swiss mathematician. She was considered an internationally respected mathematician of her era. Biography Anna Barbara Reinhart was the third child and first daughter of Councilor Salomon Reinhart (1693 – 1761) and Anna Steiner.[1] Her childhood was overshadowed by an accident when she fell off her horse at a wedding party, which caused her to be confined her to her bed for significant periods of time.[2] Her physician, Dr. Johann Heinrich Hegner, however, noticed her aptitude for mathematics and began to teach her.[3] Henceforth, she studied mathematics using the books of Leonhard…