Mildred Dresselhaus, 1930 - 2017
On February 20, 2017, SWE Boston lost one of its most accomplished members - Mildred Dresselhaus. SWE Boston has been honored to have Professor Dresselhaus as a member since 1972. She was known as the "queen of carbon science" and was the first female Institute Professor and professor emerita of physics and electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Professor Dresselhaus won numerous awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, the Enrico Fermi Award and the Vannevar Bush Award.
In addition to her many technical accomplishments, Professor Dresselhaus was known for giving back to the technical community.
Below is a copy of the recap of the SWE Boston February 2013 professional development meeting, written by Artemis Agelaridou. We were thrilled to feature Professor Dresselhaus as our speaker.
In addition to her many technical accomplishments, Professor Dresselhaus was known for giving back to the technical community.
Below is a copy of the recap of the SWE Boston February 2013 professional development meeting, written by Artemis Agelaridou. We were thrilled to feature Professor Dresselhaus as our speaker.
February 2013 Professional Development Meeting Recap
Last month both SWE members and BAE Systems employees were delighted to meet in person and hear from Professor Mildred Dresselhaus about her lifelong adventures with carbon. She guided us through her work decade-by-decade and emphasized that "when disaster strikes, don't despair but patiently try to find your new path". Prof. Dresselhaus was very excited about her recent (2012) Kavli award for her contributions in nanoscience and for good reasons; she is the first solo recipient of the newly established (some say Nobel-equivalent) highest honor in the fields of nanotechnology, neuroscience and astrophysics. She joked about it during dinner and told me that she had been planning to retire but after getting all these awards recently, she feels she has to work even harder these days to feel that she really earned them!
Personally I was inspired and re-energized to meet the 82-year old "Queen of Carbon" and long-time SWE member and supporter. Many thanks to BAE Systems for hosting the event.
Personally I was inspired and re-energized to meet the 82-year old "Queen of Carbon" and long-time SWE member and supporter. Many thanks to BAE Systems for hosting the event.
Wikipedia
Mildred Dresselhaus (née Spiewak; November 11, 1930 – February 20, 2017), known as the "queen of carbon science", was the first female Institute Professor and professor emerita of physics and electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dresselhaus won numerous awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, the Enrico Fermi Award and the Vannevar Bush Award.
MIT Tributehttp://news.mit.edu/2017/institute-professor-emerita-mildred-dresselhaus-dies-86-0221
Carbon Queen Biography: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/carbon-queen |
Awards• Presidential Medal of Freedom
• National Medal of Science • Enrico Fermi Award • Vannevar Bush Award |
Gifts in her MemoryTo honor Millie's legacy, gifts in her memory may be made here:
https://annualfund.mit.edu/dresselhaus/ |
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