Berta Karlik
Encyclopedia
Berta Karlik was an Austrian
physicist
.
She discovered that the element 85 astatine is a product of the natural decay processes. The element was first synthesized in 1940 by Dale R. Corson
, K. R. MacKenzie, and Emilio Segrè, after several scientists in vain searched for it in radioactive minerals.
from 1923 till 1928 when she received her Ph.D.. After studying in Paris and London she started working at the Institut für Radiumforschung
(Institut for Radium Research) in Vienna in 1931. From 1937 she was allowed to give lectures, and slowly advanced in the hirarchy of the institute. She became provisional director of the institute in 1945 and official in 1947. Berta Karlik was the first woman to be full professor (ordentliche Professur) at the University of Vienna in 1956. She retired in 1973, but worked at "her" institute till her death in 1990.
Austrians
Austrians are a nation and ethnic group, consisting of the population of the Republic of Austria and its historical predecessor states who share a common Austrian culture and Austrian descent....
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
.
She discovered that the element 85 astatine is a product of the natural decay processes. The element was first synthesized in 1940 by Dale R. Corson
Dale R. Corson
Dale R. Corson was the eighth president of Cornell University. Born in Pittsburg, Kansas, in 1914, Corson received a B.A. degree from the College of Emporia in 1934, his M.A. degree from the University of Kansas in 1935, and his Ph.D...
, K. R. MacKenzie, and Emilio Segrè, after several scientists in vain searched for it in radioactive minerals.
Biography
Berta Karlik was born in Vienna and studied physics at the University of ViennaUniversity of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
from 1923 till 1928 when she received her Ph.D.. After studying in Paris and London she started working at the Institut für Radiumforschung
Institute for Radium Research, Vienna
The Institute for Radium Research was an Austrian research institute associated with the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna. The Institute's researchers won multiple Nobel Prizes...
(Institut for Radium Research) in Vienna in 1931. From 1937 she was allowed to give lectures, and slowly advanced in the hirarchy of the institute. She became provisional director of the institute in 1945 and official in 1947. Berta Karlik was the first woman to be full professor (ordentliche Professur) at the University of Vienna in 1956. She retired in 1973, but worked at "her" institute till her death in 1990.