Born: March 6, 1912 (Highbury, North London)
Biography:
Madge Gertrude Adam was an English solar astronomer who made groundbreaking contributions to the field of solar physics. She was born on March 6, 1912, and grew up in Highbury, North London. Her father, a teacher at Drayton Park School, tragically lost his life during World War I in 1918. Following her father’s death, Madge and her family relocated to Yorkshire to live with her maternal grandparents.
At the age of nine, Madge suffered from skeletal tuberculosis of an elbow and rickets, which led to a year-long stay at the Liverpool Open-Air Hospital for treatment. Despite this setback, she maintained a strong academic drive and, upon her release from the hospital, was awarded a scholarship to Doncaster High School in South Yorkshire. It was during this time that her passion for science and mathematics began to blossom.
In 1931, Madge gained a scholarship in physics and enrolled in St Hugh’s College, Oxford. She made history as the first woman to achieve a first-class degree in physics at Oxford. Following her undergraduate studies, she continued her academic journey by earning an MA and a D.Phil. from Lady Margaret Hall.
Madge’s career in solar physics started when the newly appointed director of the Oxford observatory, who had just installed the university’s first solar telescope, announced his research program. Armed with her first-class degree in physics, Madge approached the director and confidently asked, How about me This bold move granted Madge the opportunity to become the first postgraduate student and solar physicist at the university’s observatory.
Throughout her career, Madge played a crucial role at the observatory, eventually becoming acting director during World War II when the director left to work on aircraft production. She later assumed the position of permanent assistant director and even managed the observatory’s financial accounts. In addition to her work at the observatory, Madge was appointed an assistant tutor at St. Hugh’s and taught astronomy courses, focusing on astronavigation, to Royal Navy and RAF cadets.
Madge Adam gained international recognition for her extensive research on sunspots and their magnetic fields. Her work significantly contributed to our understanding of the nature and behavior of these phenomena. In recognition of her accomplishments, she was appointed as a lecturer at the University of Oxford in the Department of Astrophysics, a position she held from 1937 until her retirement in 1979.
Madge Adam’s contributions to the field of astronomy were highly regarded, and she was elected as a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society on March 11, 1938. Her dedication, pioneering spirit, and immense knowledge firmly established her as a respected figure in the field of solar physics.
Awards:
– Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (March 11, 1938).