Laverick, Elizabeth (1925–)

views updated

Laverick, Elizabeth (1925–)

English engineer. Born Nov 25, 1925, in UK.

The University of Durham's 1st woman student to earn a PhD in a scientific subject (1950) and the 1st woman appointed to a top British defense firm management position, served as the Institute of Electrical Engineers' (IEE) 1st woman deputy secretary (1971–85) and its 8th female fellow; was the 1st woman permitted to use the radio research station's laboratory at Ditton Park, Slough, Berkshire (worked as a technical assistant, 1942–43); worked on a microwave antennae design (1950–53) at GEC Stanmore (Marconi Defence Systems); at Elliott Brothers (1954–68), created a security system using an off-the-shelf seismic sensor (a system later employed at a Wales prison and at a British Myanmar military base); was president (1967–69) and honorary secretary (1991–95) of Women's Engineering Society; served as an editor of the Journal of the Women's Engineering Society (1983–90). Made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1993).

More From encyclopedia.com