Eva Philbin (4 January 1914 – 24 June 2005) was an Irish

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe t ...

who became the first woman president of the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland. Born Eva Maria Ryder in

Ballina, County Mayo Ballina ( ; ) is a town in north County Mayo, Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy near Killala Bay, in the Moy valley and Parish of Kilmoremoy, with the Ox Mountains to the east and the Nephin Beg mountains to the west. The town ...

, Ireland, Philbin received her B.Sc with first class honors and M.Sc from

University College Galway The University of Galway ( ga, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) is a public research university located in the city of Galway, Ireland. A tertiary education and research institution, the university was awarded the full five QS stars for excellence in 201 ...

. While at University College Galway she worked under Tom Dillon where they worked on identifying carbohydrates in seaweed. She began her career in 1939 as an industrial chemist and was chief chemist at Hygeia Ltd in Galway during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. At Hygeia she was responsible for developing alternative sources for chemicals that were unavailable due to the war. In 1945, Philbin joined the staff at

University College, Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a member institution of the National University of Ireland. With 33,284 student ...

. There she collaborated with Professor Thomas S. Wheeler to establish an active research school in Natural Product Chemistry. In 1958, Philbin was awarded a doctorate of science (DSc) from the National University of Ireland for her published work on flavonoids. Philbin became

organic chemistry Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain carbon atoms.Clayden, ...

professor in 1962 and in 1963, took over as head of the chemistry department at UCD following the death of Prof. Wheeler. She continued to work on flavonoids, related compounds and potential anti-cancer agents through collaborations with other UCD staff. Over her long career, Philbin became a fellow of the

Royal Society of Chemistry The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a learned society (professional association) in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences". It was formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Chemical Society, the Royal Instit ...

and a member of the Council of the Royal Irish Academy and the Natural Science Council. Philbin became the first woman to chair the National Science Council, was the first female senior vice-president of the Royal Irish Academy, and was the first woman president of the Institute of Chemistry in 1966. Since 2007, the Institute of Chemistry of Ireland Annual Award for Chemistry lectures series has been named in her honor as the Eva Philbin Public Lecture Series. Philbin's interests ranged beyond science, taking a strong interest in the treatment of those with learning difficulties, leading her to take up the chair of the Consultative Council on Mental Handicap as well as becoming honorary treasurer of the National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland. Her eldest daughter Eimear married broadcaster and historian John Bowman. Philbin died in 2005, aged 91.

External Resources

List of Eva Philbin's Scientific Contributions, Researchgate

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Philbin, Eva 1914 births 2005 deaths Irish chemists Irish women chemists Members of the Royal Irish Academy 20th-century women scientists