Born: 1711 (Bologna, Italy)
Died: 1778 (Bologna, Italy)
Biography:
Laura Maria Caterina Bassi Veratti was an Italian physicist and academic, often recognized and depicted as Minerva (goddess of wisdom). Born on October 29, 1711, she became the first woman in history to hold a doctorate in science and the second woman in the world to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Her achievements extended beyond academia, as she became the first salaried female teacher in a university and the first female member of any scientific establishment.
Bassi was born into a prosperous family in Bologna, Italy, to Giuseppe Bassi, a lawyer, and his wife Maria Rosa Cesari. Though the exact date of her birth is disputed, the University of Bologna and scholarly works agree that it was on October 29th. From an early age, Bassi displayed remarkable talent and curiosity, and she received a private education that covered a broad range of subjects, including sciences and mathematics.
Recognizing her exceptional abilities, Prospero Lambertini, the Archbishop of Bologna and later Pope Benedict XIV, became Bassi’s patron. With his support, she publicly defended forty-nine theses before professors of the University of Bologna on April 17, 1732, which led to her being awarded a doctoral degree on May 12th of the same year. This accomplishment made her the first woman to hold a doctorate in science.
In June 1732, Bassi made history once again when she was appointed as the first female teacher at the University of Bologna. However, she faced restrictions and was not allowed to teach all-male classes. With the help of Lambertini, who had become the Pope by then, Bassi obtained permissions for private classes and experiments, which the university granted in 1740. This allowed her to pave the way for future female scholars to pursue scientific education.
Throughout her career, Bassi focused on the popularization of Newtonian mechanics in Italy. Her scholarly contributions and experiments gained recognition, and in 1745, she was elected as an additional member of the Benedettini, a scientific establishment similar to the modern Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Bassi also held various professorships, and by the end of her life, she became the highest-paid employee of the University of Bologna.
In 1776, Bassi took up the prestigious Chair of Experimental Physics, a position she held until her death. Her dedication to the advancement of scientific knowledge and her groundbreaking achievements paved the way for future generations of female scientists. Laura Bassi is interred at the Church of Corpus Domini in Bologna as a testament to her enduring legacy.
Awards:
– First woman to hold a doctorate in science
– Second woman in the world to earn a Doctor of Philosophy degree
– First salaried female teacher in a university
– First female member of any scientific establishment