Florence Buchanan (21 April 1867 – 13 March 1931) was a zoologist. She was awarded a London D.Sc. in 1902, was appointed as a Fellow of the

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

in 1904, and was awarded the American Association of Collegiate Alumnae's prize in 1910 for her research.

Early years

Florence Buchanan was born on 21 April 1867 in the St. Marylebone parish in London.

Education

Florence studied for a BSc in Zoology at the

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

, from 1886–1890, achieving a second class honours.

Research

Buchanan's early research interests were in the development of respiratory organs in decapod Crustacea, as well as poylchaete worms, which she researched at

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

(1889–1892), the

Plymouth Marine Laboratory Plymouth Marine Laboratory (abbreviated as PML) in the city of Plymouth, England, is a marine research organization and registered charity. It is a partner of the UK Research & Innovation's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). PML's chai ...

(1891), and the Royal Dublin Society (1893). By 1894, Buchanan's primary research interests had changed to the electrical effects in muscle, which she researched at J. Burdon Sanderson's laboratory in

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

(1894-1905), which then progressed into an interest in the heartbeat and form of the electrocardiogram, and transmission of reflex impulses in mammals, birds, and reptiles, which she researched at the

Oxford University Museum The Oxford University Museum of Natural History, sometimes known simply as the Oxford University Museum or OUMNH, is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's natural history specimens, located on Parks Road in Oxford, England. It a ...

laboratory (1904-1913). Buchanan is thought to be the first woman to attend a meeting of

The Physiological Society The Physiological Society, founded in 1876, is a learned society for physiologists in the United Kingdom. History The Physiological Society was founded in 1876 as a dining society "for mutual benefit and protection" by a group of 19 physiologis ...

, and she was among the group of six first female members of the Society in 1915.

Achievements

Buchanan was awarded a London D.Sc. in physiology in July 1902, for her research into electrical effects in muscle, as well as being appointed as a Fellow of the

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

in 1904, in order to continue her research in this area. In 1910, Buchanan was awarded the American Association of Collegiate Alumnae's prize, for her original research into transmission of reflex impulses.

Later years and death

Following the death of long-time collaborator J. Burdon Sanderson in 1905, Buchanan decided to continue their work into the heartbeat and form of the electrocardiogram, and transmission of reflex impulses herself, with occasional collaborative discussions being held with

Charles Scott Sherrington Sir Charles Scott Sherrington (27 November 1857 – 4 March 1952) was an eminent English neurophysiologist. His experimental research established many aspects of contemporary neuroscience, including the concept of the spinal reflex as a system ...

. Post 1913, shortly after being awarded the American Association of Collegiate Alumnae's prize, Buchanan's publication rate started to decline, up until her death on 13 March 1931.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchanan, Florence Women mammalogists Women zoologists Women marine biologists British scientists 1867 births 1931 deaths