Categories

Bibha Chowdhuri Cosmic Ray’s Reseacher

Bibha Chowdhuri was born in 1913 in Kolkata, India. While her family was progressive and valued education, the rest of their society did not: women who pursued an education were rare, and those who did were highly discouraged. Chowdhuri stayed in Kolkata to continue her schooling and earned her Bachelor of Science in Physics with Honors from Scottish Church College and her Masters from Calcutta University. She was the only woman in her class.

Upon earning her Masters, Chowdhuri was just the third woman to have ever received a postgraduate degree in physics from Calcutta.

In 1945, Chowdhury moved to the University of Manchester’s cosmic ray research lab under Patrick M. S. Blackett to earn her PhD. Leading the research charge for cosmic rays.

Blackett invented a new type of cloud chamber that was more sensitive to the particles being studied- earning him a Nobel Prize in 1949. It’s unknown how much of Chowdhury’s research contributed to the invention and discoveries found with it.

Chowdhury submitted her thesis, titled “Extensive Air Showers Associated with Penetrating Particles,” a few months later.

Her thesis examiners recommended her for a position at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai (TIFR), India, newly formed by Dr. Homi J. Bhabh.

Bibha Chowdhuri_ A Woman of Firsts with No Recognition – San Diego SquaredDownload