# Honoring Rosemary Fowler: A Physics Pioneer at 98 Years Old
Written on
Chapter 1: A Remarkable Achievement
Rosemary Fowler, now 98 years old, is finally being recognized for her pioneering work in particle physics. The University of Bristol has awarded her an honorary doctorate, celebrating her groundbreaking yet long-overlooked contributions to the field.
Fowler's journey began at the young age of 22, during a time when very few women were involved in physics. As the atomic era unfolded, researchers began to explore the intricate and fascinating realm of subatomic particles. This included the well-known neutrons, protons, and electrons, as well as new discoveries like mesons, pions, and quarks, which were categorized by unique "flavors" such as charm, up, and strange.
Section 1.1: The Discovery of the K-meson
Among these particles, Fowler identified one that exhibited completely unexpected behavior. Her analysis of cosmic ray interactions in photo emulsions revealed a particle that split into three parts, a departure from the previously understood two-part decay. This unusual phenomenon led to the naming of the particle as the K-meson, or kaon, due to its distinctive K-shaped trace.
“I immediately recognized that this was a significant and novel finding. We were uncovering phenomena that had never been observed before — that's the thrill of particle physics,” Fowler expressed.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Rush to Publish
Eager to share her findings, Fowler quickly authored three scientific papers, two of which were published in the esteemed journal Nature. However, her pursuit of a PhD was not feasible; after marrying her colleague Peter Fowler, she chose to prioritize her family over her academic aspirations.
Section 1.2: Family vs. Career
“It was a practical decision. At that time, very few women were in the workforce, and there was a shortage of housing and food due to rationing,” explained Nobel laureate Paul Nurse during the honorary doctorate ceremony. “Rosemary opted to support Peter's career from home while raising their daughters.”
Nurse acknowledged that this decision resulted in Fowler's contributions being largely unrecognized, even though her PhD mentor, Cecil Powell, was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1950 for his work in the same field and the methodologies he developed. “We have not adequately acknowledged Rosemary's contributions to physics,” Nurse stated.
Chapter 2: The Lasting Impact of Her Work
Nurse highlighted that Fowler’s findings “laid the groundwork for ongoing discoveries that continue to enhance our understanding of the universe.” The peculiar behavior of the kaon led scientists to realize that such minuscule particles do not conform to the conventional laws of physics as one would expect with larger objects, such as billiard balls.
“This was revolutionary,” Nurse remarked. Researchers spent nearly a decade unraveling the complexities surrounding Fowler's discovery, ultimately leading to a reevaluation of established Newtonian principles.
Nurse believes that had Fowler remained in academia, she would have achieved significant accomplishments. Conversations at home with her husband about the universe’s fundamental components inspired their two daughters to pursue higher education.
“My childhood dream was to become a physicist because it sounded so thrilling. My parents often discussed research,” recalled her daughter Mary, who later served as principal of Darwin College in Cambridge for many years.
Fowler herself humbly accepted the honor at the ceremony, attended by her children and grandchildren. She expressed her gratitude, saying she felt "very honored" by the recognition, but added that she “hasn’t done anything since then that merits special attention.”
References:
- University of Bristol: Female physics pioneer, 98, honored 75 years after discovery
- Nature: How a forgotten physicist’s discovery broke the symmetry of the Universe