Inge Lehmann
1888-1993
1888
Born at Osterbro by the Lakes in Denmark.
Attended co-ed school Ran by Hanna Adler, Aunt of Niels Bohr.
“No difference between the intellect of boys and girls was recognized, a fact that brought some disappointment later in life when I had to recognize that this was not the general attitude. ”
1907
University of Copenhagen in Autumn to study mathematics, physics, chemistry and astronomy.
1910 admitted to Newnham College, Cambridge, England.
1918
After a break, Inge returns to the University of Copenhagen, graduating in 1920.
1925
Appointed “Gradmaalingen” responsible for Danish seismographic stations.
“I don’t see why the sex of the candidate is relevant - this is after all an academic institute not a bath house”
1927
Inge performs seismic work, installing seismographs.
“I began to do seismic work and had some extremely interesting years in which I and three young men who had never seen a seismograph before were actively installing seismographs in Copenhagen and also helping prepare the Greenland installations. I studied seismology at the same time unaided, but in the summer of 1927 I was sent abroad for three months. I spent one month with Professor Beno Gutenberg in Darmstad. He gave me a great deal of his time and invaluable help.”
Gutenberg Discontinuity
The Gutenberg Discontinuity is a seismic boundary that separates the Earth's outer core from its mantle. Identified in 1913 by German seismologist Beno Gutenberg, this boundary is located at a depth of approximately 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) beneath the Earth's surface. Gutenberg made this groundbreaking discovery by analyzing the behavior of seismic waves generated by earthquakes. He observed that P-waves (Primary waves) experienced a sudden decrease in velocity at this depth, indicating a dramatic change in the Earth's composition.
Inge earned her degree from the University of Copenhagen in 1928. Her thesis was on seismology.
1928
Inge was appointed to a post within the newly established Royal Danish Geodetic Institute which she held until 1953