Nora Lilian Alcock
| Nora Lilian Lepard Alcock | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Nora Lilian Scott 18 August 1874 |
| Died | 31 March 1972 (aged 97) |
| Nationality | British |
| Fields | Plant pathology, mycology |
| Institutions |
University of London Kew Gardens Department of Agriculture for Scotland |
| Known for |
First government-appointed plant pathologist in Scotland Research on disease-resistant strawberries |
| Notable awards |
MBE (1935) Fellow, Linnean Society of London (1923) |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | N.L.Alcock |
Nora Lilian Alcock, also known as Nora Lilian Lepart and Nora Lilian Leopard, (18 August 1874 – 31 March 1972) was a pioneer in the field of plant pathology and the first government-appointed plant pathologist in Scotland.
Biography
Nora Lilian Scott was born in 1874, the daughter of Sir John Scott,[1] the Judicial Advisor to the Khedive of Egypt, and Edgeworth Leonora Hill. It appears she had no formal higher education. She married Nathaniel Henry Alcock, a radiologist, in 1905 and moved to Canada. When he died of cancer in 1913, she and her four children returned to Britain.[2]
Work
Upon her return to London, Alcock obtained a post at the Plant Pathology Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Kew Gardens.[2] During her appointment, Alcock developed expertise in mycology under the directorships of Sir John Fryer, John Ramsbottom, and Professor Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan.[3] Alcock became a fellow of the Linnean Society in 1922, and in 1924, she moved to Edinburgh for the position of plant pathologist in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.[2] Her post was based at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and focused on using healthy seeds to increasing food production.[3] She retired in 1937.[3]
Honours and recognition
As a result of her research on fungal diseases, in particular red core disease in strawberries, Alcock was awarded an MBE in 1935. Her work developed disease-resistant strains and catalogued seed-borne diseases.[2]
In 1924 Alcock became the first person to hold the new post of Plant Pathologist in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.[2]
Other accomplishments
During the Second World War, she taught botany to prisoners of war. She was a member of the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs and the Edinburgh Soroptimists.[3]
References
- ↑ Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 3.djvu. Wikisource. p. 290.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Haines, Catherine M. C. (2001). "Alcock, Nora Lillian née Scott". International Women in Science: A Biographical Dictionary to 1950. Santa Barbara, Calif. [u.a.]: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-57607-090-1.
- 1 2 3 4 Walker, Agnes (4 March 2012). "Nora Lilian Alcock". Mapping Memorials to Women in Scotland. Women's History Scotland. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ↑ "Author Query for 'N.L.Alcock'". International Plant Names Index.
External links
- Women of Scotland Mapping Memorials to Women in Scotland – Nora Lilian Alcock
- Whois.com Nora Lilian Alcock Biography
- International Women in Science - A Biographical History to 1950 - Entry for Nora Lilian Alcock
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