Elisabeth Kara-Michailova- the first Bulgarian physicist
She was born on 3rd September 1897
Parents
Her father Ivan Karamihailov was a Bulgarian doctor, a
surgeon.In 1907 he headed the newly created hospital called ''
Red Cross''- now its name is ''Pirogov''.
Her mother- Mary Slade was English
who studied Music and learnt a lot
about piano and composition.
Education
In 1917 she graduated from The first girls`high
school in Sofia.
In 1938 Elisabeth graduated from Cambridge
University
In1922 she graduated from Vienna University as PhD in Physics and
Mathematics. She could speak four foreign languages- German, English,
French and Bulgarian.
Scientific activities and positions
In 1921 she started her work at the Institute for Radium studies in
Vienna, particularly interested in radioluminescenc. She made a lot of
researches connected with the transmutation of light elements.
(cosmic rays)
In 1931 she and Marietta Blau observed a
specific type of previously unknown radiation
emitted from polonium and cosmic rays and published the
results.
In 1939 she was appointed as a docent of Department of Physics in Sofia
University. She was the first woman teacher.
She has written 40 scientific works, many
publications and analyzes.
In the last days of her carrier she worked in Bulgarian Academy of
Sciences, headed the Department of Radoactivity and Nuclear
Spectrology.
She died in 1968 from cancer. She donated all her property and
her father`s house to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. She
donated her body for researches connected with the effects of
radiation on the human body.