Meeting Information

Meeting/Event Information

Margaret E. Schott, PhD: "Betty Wood: Scientist and Educator at Bell Labs" (virtual meeting)

March 14, 2024
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
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March (Virtual) Meeting

Margaret E. Schott, PhD

Senior Research Associate
Northwestern University

Betty Wood: Scientist and educator at Bell Labs and beyond

ABSTRACT

Elizabeth (Betty) Armstrong Wood (1912–2006) was an American geologist, mineralogist, physical chemist, crystallographer and author with a lifelong passion for education. Her knowledge of quartz crystals during WWII landed her a job at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ in 1943. But not just any job: she was the first female scientist hired as a Member of the Technical Staff (MTS). During a 24-year career she collaborated on projects such as the characterization of quartz plates for use in communication devices and the X-ray crystallographic analysis of newly fabricated semiconductor and superconducting materials. An AT&T historical account notes that Betty’s scientific advice was constantly sought by Bell Labs experts and that her work “helped to develop an understanding of the relationship between physical properties and crystal structure and made possible the synthesis of many new substances with predictable properties." During the post-Sputnik era she was an outspoken advocate of science and engineering education for women, giving talks with titles like “Why Shouldn’t I Be a Scientist?” and “The Other Half of Scientific Manpower." Following her retirement in 1967, Betty participated in national efforts to revamp physical science textbooks, presented talks on rocks and minerals, and iris hybridization, and founded an award for excellence in science writing. She also penned a travel book called "Science from Your Airplane Window."

PROGRAM

• 11:00 - 11:10 Introductory remarks

• 11:10 - 12:00 Main Lecture

• 12:00 - 12:15 Q&A, closing remarks

QUESTIONS?

QUESTIONS? Please contact the Section Office via phone (847-391-9091) or email ([email protected]).

BIOGRAPHY

Margaret (Peggy) has worked at Northwestern University since 2008 as the personal assistant to Professor Sir Fraser Stoddart, a Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (2016). She hails originally from north central New Jersey, where she attended public schools. She studied chemistry at The College of William and Mary in Virginia prior to earning a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Northwestern University under the direction of Professor Robert Letsinger. Dr. Schott’s work experiences include chemical and biomedical research at The Dow Chemical Company (Midland, MI), the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD), and Georgetown University’s Lombardi Cancer Center, followed by a period of teaching chemistry at Dominican University in River Forest, IL. She is a 45-year member of the American Chemical Society and is an active participant in the Division for the History of Chemistry by giving talks on the life and work of historical women scientists. Outside of science, she enjoys woodworking, swimming and hiking, and playing the viola in chamber music groups

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