1. Early Life
Laura Bassi was an Italian physicist and academic. She was the first woman to earn a professorship in physics at a university in Europe.
Bassi was born on 31 October 1711 in Bologna, the second child of Giovanni Bassi, a landowner, and his wife, Maria Cresti. She was educated privately at home by her father and by private tutors. When she was thirteen, her father died and she was placed under the guardianship of her uncle, a priest. Even though her father had wanted her to receive a traditional education, her uncle allowed her to continue her studies.
In 1732, at the age of twenty, Bassi married Giacomo Alberto Tanzi, a doctor of philosophy and medicine. The couple had eleven children, only four of whom survived to adulthood.
In 1738, Bassi began attending public lectures at the University of Bologna, where she studied under the philosopher Giovanni Battista Somigli. She later recalled that she was not allowed to sit in the front row of the lectures, as that was reserved for students who were enrolled at the university.
In 1739, Bassi applied to the University of Bologna to be admitted as a student, but her application was denied because she was a woman. She then petitioned the Pope, who granted her a dispensation to allow her to study at the university.
Bassi enrolled at the University of Bologna in 1740, where she studied under the physicist Francesco Maria Grimaldi. She graduated with a degree in physics in 1742.
After graduation, Bassi married Giovanni Antonio Cavazza, a lawyer. The couple had four children, only one of whom survived to adulthood.
In 1745, Bassi was appointed as a lecturer in physics at the University of Bologna. She was the first woman to hold such a position at a university in Europe.
Bassi continued to study physics and philosophy, and in 1746 she published a treatise on electricity entitled De Viribus Electricitatis in Motu Musculari Commentarius.
In 1748, Bassi was appointed
2. Education
Laura Bassi was an Italian physicist and academic. She was the first woman to become a professor at a European university. Bassi was born in Bologna, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, Giovanni Bassi, and his wife, Paolina Zambelli. She received private tutoring in several subjects, including Latin, philosophy, and mathematics, before enrolling at the University of Bologna at the age of 17.
Bassi’s academic career was initially hindered by the fact that, at the time, only men were allowed to officially enroll and study at the University of Bologna. However, she was able to obtain permission to audit classes and, later, to take her exams in a separate room from the male students. In 1732, she received her doctorate in philosophy, becoming the first woman in the world to earn a degree from a university.
Following her graduation, Bassi was appointed to a lectureship in natural philosophy at the University of Bologna. In 1738, she married Giuseppe Veratti, a fellow scientist. The couple had four children together.
Bassi’s research focused on electricity and magnetism. She was the first to measure the charge of an electrostatic capacitor, and she also developed a method for calculating the size of atoms. In 1776, she was elected to the Bologna Academy of Sciences, becoming the first woman to be a member of any scientific academy.
Bassi continued to teach and conduct research until she died in 1778. Her work was highly respected by her male colleagues, and she is considered to be one of the pioneers of women in science.
3. Career
Laura Bassi was an Italian physicist and academic. She was the first woman to be appointed as a professor at a European university. Bassi was born in Bologna, Italy, in 1711. Her father, a wealthy merchant, died when she was two years old, leaving her mother to raise Bassi and her six siblings. Bassi’s mother was supportive of her daughter’s education and encouraged her to study mathematics and natural philosophy. Bassi studied privately with some of the most renowned scientists of her day, including Giovanni Poleni and Guido Ubaldi. She also attended the University of Bologna, where she studied physics, mathematics, and philosophy.
Bassi married Giuseppe Tiraboschi, a professor of medicine at the University of Bologna, in 1738. The couple had two children, a son, and a daughter. Bassi continued her studies after her marriage and, in 1732, she was awarded a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Bologna, becoming the first woman to earn a degree from the university.
In 1738, Bassi was appointed as a lecturer in natural philosophy at the University of Bologna. She was the first woman to be appointed to a teaching position at a European university. Bassi gave public lectures on physics and philosophy and was well-respected by her students and colleagues. In 1742, she was appointed as a professor of physics, making her the first woman to hold such a position at a European university.
Bassi continued to work and teach until she died in 1778. She was survived by her husband and children.
Bassi was an important figure in the history of science and education. She was a groundbreaking scientist and the first woman to be appointed as a professor at a European university. Bassi’s work and example inspired other women to pursue careers in science and academia.
4. later Life
Today, I would like to talk about Laura Bassi, who was an Italian physicist and academic. She received a degree in philosophy from the University of Bologna in 1732, making her the first woman to do so. After her husband’s death, Bassi continued her work in physics and was appointed to a chair in experimental physics at the University of Bologna, making her the first woman to teach at a university in Europe. Bassi made significant contributions to the fields of electricity and magnetism. She also conducted groundbreaking research into the nature of sound and light. Bassi was a highly respected scientist in her time and was even compared to Isaac Newton by some of her contemporaries.
Sadly, Bassi passed away in 1778, at the age of just 45. However, her legacy as a groundbreaking scientist lives on. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in Bassi’s life and work, and she is now widely recognized as one of the most important scientists of the 18th century.
5. Legacy
5 Legacy is a Laura Bassi legacy. It was established to remember and honor the life of Laura Bassi, an Italian physicist, and scientist who made significant contributions to the fields of physics and science. The Laura Bassi legacy is committed to continuing her work in the advancement of knowledge and education. We believe that her work and example will inspire future generations to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world.
