Daphne Jackson

Born on 23 September 1936 in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England, Daphne Jackson was a nuclear physicist who in 1971 became the UK’s first female physics professor. Jackson studied physics at Imperial College London, earning her BSc in 1958. She was one of just two women in a class of 99 students. After earning her PhD in nuclear physics in 1962 from what is now called the University of Surrey, she stayed on as a lecturer. She rose through the ranks, and in 1971 she was appointed professor of physics, becoming the first woman in the UK to hold that position. She later became head of the physics department and dean of the faculty of science at the university. Over her career she published more than 100 scientific articles and four books on nuclear physics. In addition to being a distinguished physicist in nuclear, medical, and radiation physics, Jackson took on leadership positions in a number of professional organizations, such as serving as president of the Women’s Engineering Society and vice president of the Institute of Physics. Jackson campaigned for women in STEM careers and established fellowships to help women who were having trouble getting back into science after taking a career break to have children, care for elderly relatives, or relocate for their partner’s job. In recognition of her life’s work, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1987. Jackson died of cancer in 1991 at age 54. The Daphne Jackson Trust was established in 1992 in her memory to continue her work on the behalf of career returners. The Daphne Jackson Medal and Prize were established in 2016 to recognize and reward exceptional early-career contributions to physics education.

Date in History: 23 September 1936