http://cwp.library.ucla.edu./Phase2/Lehmann,_Inge@81234567.html

Inge Lehmann

"You should know how many incompetent men I had to compete with - in vain!" - Inge

Inge Lehmann was born in 1888 in Copenhagen, Denmark. While growing up Inge attended a co-educational school that taught that both sexes should be taught the same thing. Finally in 1920, after twelve years of schooling at the University of Copenhagen and the University of Cambridge with a break to work for six years in between, Inge obtained her masters degree in mathematics. Eight years later, she earned a second degree in geodesy which is the geological science of the size and shape of the earth.

Contribution to Physics:

- In 1936, Inge discovered that the earth had an inner core located 5121 km below the earth's surface.

- Also in 1936, Inge discovered the Lehmann Discontinuity which is the region that divides the core into the inner and outer parts.

Other Achievements and Awards:

1928, was named the first chief of the seismology department of the Royal Danish Geodetic Institute

She was the first president of the European Seismological Commission which she held for 25 years

In 1936, published her paper P'- which led to the finding of the Lehmann Discontinuity

In 1941, founded the Danish Geophysical Society

In 1964, awarded the Wiechert Medal by the Deutsche Geophysikalische Gesellschaft Also

in 1964, awarded an honorary doctorate of science from Columbia University

In 1971, was presented with the William Bowie Medal

In 1997, creation of an award in her honor, The Lehmann Medal

In 1993, Inge passed away at the age of 105