National Oral History Project: Women in Australian Science, 1949-1999 (bulk 1996-1999)

Component identifier:

Series 1

Content Summary:

The project was commenced by the National Library in 1996. Dr Ragbir Bhathal identified over 100 prominent Australian women scientists and has conducted oral history interviews with about a third of them. Interviews have been held with women scientists who have made a significant contribution to the development of science and technology in Australia and internationally. The women chosen were either Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science, Fellows of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering or heads of research groups and scientific organisations in Australia.

The aims of the project were to record the life and achievement and opinions of significant women scientists, to place their achievements in the context of the development of science in Australia and internationally and to publicise the achievements of women scientists amongst the public.

The papers consist of correspondence between Bhathal and the interviewees relating to interview arrangements, a list of questions to be asked during the interviews, journal articles written by the interviewees and newscuttings about them. There is a transcript of the interview for eight of the women. Two of these are available for public access. The remaining six transcripts require permission from the interviewee before they can be made available. The folders which do not contain transcripts are also available for public access. Folders 1-7 are available for access while folders 8-14 are restricted.

Edited extracts of some of the interviews appear in Profiles: Australian Women Scientists by Ragbir Bhathal and published by the National Library in 1999.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Papers were initially donated to the Library by Ragbir Bhathal in 1999. Further papers were received in May 2001 (MS 9365 Box 3-6). Additions were received in 2006 and 2008.

Names:

Bhathal, Ragbir Singh, Dr

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